The caste system traditionally divided the entire Indian population into a strict system of hereditary groups of people. Consisting of mainly four main castes and a fifth group outside of the caste, the system governed the lives of Indians with an iron hand and strict law and for the majority of the Indian population made life very difficult.

The appreciation and acceptance of the caste system relied on the ideas of karma and dharma. Indians believed that people were what they were due to something they achieved in a previous life, karma, and the believer, accepting his situation in life performs the duties expected f him which is dharma. Each of the 3000 individual castes that existed had it's own rules, rituals, customs and spirits.

An Indian's place in the caste system was entirely determined by birth, so unlike the traditional Roman system, one could not advance up a caste or two with achievements or recommendations. One could not change his position in the caste system during one lifetime. The caste system imposed uncountable restrictions upon the members of each group, concerning diet, marr

B) The traditional caste system of India began more than 3000 years ago, when Aryan-speaking nomadic groups travelled form the north of India in 1500 BC. The Aryan priests, as described in the ancient and sacred literature of India, divided society into the basic caste system. At some stage between 200 BC and 100 AD, the Manu Smitri, or the Law of Manu, was written. The Aryan priest-lawmakers created the four hereditary caste groups still existing today, placing their individual caste group alongside the title of the earthly gods. Next came the Kshatriyas, then the Vaisyas and the Sudras. Outside of these were the untouchables, or Harijans. Occasionally, people were expelled from the groups they were born into and became a part of the Untouchables. The caste system, created by the priests, was made a part of Hindu religious law.

4) Find two examples (past or present) of the caste system in practice. At least one of these is to come from either the Internet or a CD ROM source.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1201
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)