Download The untouchables references the Hindu caste system and is at the

Ayesha Bakshi
Mr. Tavernia
AP World History / Period 4
Packet C
Theme 5 - Social: Untouchables
The untouchables references the Hindu caste system and is at the very bottom of
the scale. Many people in India are still under the label “untouchable” or under the “dalit”
caste. Being an untouchable hurts people’s human right since birth when they are
automatically born into this level. Even though the caste system is considered illegal in
India today, people still have their castes and subcastes based on how long it has been
in the Hindu religion.
There are many rules that an untouchable had to or must follow. Some
examples of rules are that the Dalits are not allowed to eat with someone that is apart of
another caste, they are not allowed to marry someone that is from another caste,
different seating places in restaurant for these people, not allowed to enter certain
castes’ houses, not allowed to enter the same village temple as another caste, etc.
Sadly, there have been many crimes against Dalit or the untouchables which is
very unfair. There have been new laws that try to protect the Dalits, but eventually did
not help them as much as the laws should of. One of the acts that the Indian
government had passed is called The Prevention of Atrocities Act. Much education is
not given to untouchable’s children which will result in them not receiving a good job in
the future.
Balila, Joshua
Mr. Tavernia
Period 2
Packet C
Social: Jati
Jati is a term used in Hinduism that denotes one’s social position in a caste,
which also determines several other social factors. In Hindu society, your jati
determines who you can marry, what you can do in life, and to whom you must obey
and follow. The jati specify where you stand socially within one of four “varnas.” The
four varnas - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras - are the broad
classifications for what your class is, with the classes representing priests, rulers and
warriors, landowners and merchants, and laborers respectively. Jati would then narrow
the classification into thousands of specific castes, each with their own set of social
rules and expectations. One of the major characteristics of your jati is that it is
determined by your birth, without chance for social mobility until your reincarnation.
The system of jati has many effects on Hindu society as a whole, and has heavily
influenced the both the political and cultural aspects of Hindu societies. For example,
rulers are often born into power, without merit or experience, and culturally, Hindu
society is based around the idea of waiting for the next life to occupy a higher jati. This
reliance on reincarnation is actually what led to the formation of Buddhism by
Siddhartha Gautama, who believed that anyone could achieve enlightenment by simply
following the steps laid out by Siddhartha. To those in lower jatis, this seemed like a
tantalizing idea, and so many converted to Buddhism.
Ariann Barker Mr. Tavernia Ap World History Period 4 Packet C
Social: Patrician
Patricians were ruling class families in ancient Rome. When Romulus developed Rome,
he appointed 100 men as senators. Their descendants became patricians. Initially, they
had much more political involvement than plebeians, or the working class, did. However,
this was only during the early Republic. Patricians could only hold office or be priests,
until 342BC. Later on, however, as plebeians gained more and more rights, the
differences between both were blurred and came down to one factor: wealth. The usage
of the title started to dwindle and change based on meaning and intention. Rather than
mean wealthy citizen, the title instead became used for those elected by leaders of the
state.
Jared Cohen
Mr. Tavernia
AP World History - P.4
Packet C
Social: Patricians
During the Roman Republic, there were
two social classes, Patricians, and Plebeians.
Though these social classes were gotten rid of
after the Roman Republic, they played an
important role in the life of the Romans.
Patricians were considered "higher-class"
than the plebeians were. Though becoming
Patricians requires hard work, the emperor can decide to promote plebeians to patrician status.
There were two different sections of patricians and were based on their part in society.
Senators were the people who took part in the Senate and had an important role in the elections and
criminal trials occurring in the Republic. In addition, patricians also were considered equity. The
equities have a large amount of property and money.
Patricians live in a life of luxury. They had the best living spaces, food, and clothes out of the
entire republic. Patricians would spend their time listening to music, writing or hearing poetry, hunting
for game, and racing horses. In addition, they
were also well educated. A tutor taught all
concepts, such as history and literature.
During Roman society, being a patrician is
considered high-class. Those who were in this
class were considered very wealthy and luck to
live they way they do. The rest of Roman
Civilization looked up at them. During the fall of
the roman republic, the Conflict of the Orders
sparked a political struggle between the Plebeians and the Patricians. In the end, the social class
ceased to exist, making the Plebeians and Patricians equal once again.
Dichter 1
Sydni Dichter
Tavernia
AP World History, Period 4
10 November, 2016
Social - Plebeians
In classical Rome, there were two main social classes: patricians and plebeians. Plebeians
were the lower of the two classes and contained all the common people. Plebeians made up the
majority of the Roman population. Plebeians had commoner jobs and could serve in the military,
but could never become wealthy or become leaders. The plebeians were not even allowed to
know the laws they were required to follow. The emperors of Rome ran it with the method that
paid patricians and fed plebeians made for a
happy empire. However, conditions in the
plebeian urban areas began to decrease in safety
and sanitation, especially with the spread of
disease. The plebeians eventually staged a
revolt, known as the Conflict of Orders.
Although the Conflict of Orders earned the
plebeians more rights and a voice in their
government, it was also a factor in the decline
of the Roman empire.
Ben Geller
Mr. Tavernia
AP World History P.4
Packet C
Social: Plebian
The Plebs or plebian are the general body of Rome that are not the government officials or high class
patricians. The social order in Rome is clear it goes from the high government officials or patricians to
the plexins. The plebian get the second look and choice that is often irrelevant in decisions. A lot of the
time the government officials wanted it to look like both sides had equal social equality, so they
accepted the plebian opinions in a sneaky fashion after their own. There were several wars that ended
in the patricians having leaders like Julius Cease. All of the plebian had certain jobs they had in society
with little leeway, but the patricians had a more relaxed job as the leader. There were times where the
plebian just had enough and rebelled, but otherwise the two sides disagreed in a generally peaceful
manner. This links to the social theme, because in Rome there was two classes and the plebian were
one of them, therefore it has a direct link to the theme. Also, all of the impacts that come from the
situation in Rome are social, a social system is created by the two sides.
Annita Huang
Mr. Tavernia
AP World/Period 4
Packet: C
Theme 5: Varna/Jati
Varna is like a subdivision class which have four major social division, which are
Brahmins, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra. The brahmins are the priests and scholars.
The Kshatriya are warriors and officials. The Vaishya are merchants, artisans, and
landowners. The Shudra, dasas, consists of of people who do menial jobs or peasants and
laborers. Within the varna system there are many jati, regional groups of people who
have a common occupational sphere and who marry, eat, and generally interact with
other members of their group.
LailaInan
Mr.Tavernia
APWorldHistory,P4
PacketC
Social:Varna
ThesocialclassesintheHinduismreligionarecalledtheVarnas.Theycontrol
societyandallofit’ssocialaspects.Inthereligion,Hinduscanonlymarryand
interactwithintheirclasssystem.Therearefourmaincastesystemsthatyou
areborninto.TheBrahminsarethepriestlyclass,representedonahumanby
theheadoranyfacialfeatures.TheKshatriyasarethenoblemenandwarriors,
represented by the arms, and or abdominal areas. The Vaishyas, or the
merchants and those who work in the commercial community, are
representedbythethighs.TheKshudras,orthetheservants,arerepresented
as the feet. There is technically a fifth class, the untouchables, but they are
knownasnotpartyofthecastesoreligibleforNirvana.Theinevitablegoalof
HinduismistograduatefromyourVarnatogoupcastelevelstoultimatelybe
released from Samsara to reunite with Brahma and ultimately achieve
Nirvana. These Varnas control all of Hindu Society. You only interact with
your class because those above you won’t interact with you for the same
reason you won’t interact with those less than you, you don’t want to be
influencedbypowersthataren’tasworthyasyou.Becauseyou’retryingtogo
up,whyriskyourlevelgraduationbyinteractingwiththosebelowyou?
Sloane Knapp
AP World History P4
Packet C
11/10/16
Social: Patricians
The Patricians were the wealthy elites of the Roman Empire. They had a
high social status, which in the classical period, got you very far. Rulers were
concerned with keeping the elites loyal, so they got many privileges that the
lower class, in this case the Plebeians, did not have the luxury of. The Roman
government often gave them money for their support and loyalty. This angered
the lower class, leading to tensions between the two.
Social:Varna
Varnas refer to the method of social stratification in ancient India—the caste
systm. Each varna is a caste as described by ancient Hindu writings. The four
main varnas are the Brahmins (people who devote life to learning ie. Scolars and
priests), the Kshatriyas (the warriors/people who protect the empire), the
Vaishays (basically the blue collar workers of ancient India), and the Shudras
(servants). In the Rig Veda, the castes or varnas are identified as different parts
of the primordial Purusha. The Brahmins are the mouth, the Kshatriyas are the
arms, the Vaishyas are the thighs and the Shudras are the feet.
Angela Lin
Mr. Tavernia
AP World History P.4
Packet C
Development & Transformation of Social Structures: Patricians
Patricians were aristocrats or noblemen, and became in control of the Roman government
creating a republic. The noble patricians ruled over the empire and plebeians were denied any
voice in how they ruled. During the rule of the Etruscan kings, land was mostly owned by the
patricians. A handful of patrician families became advisors and warlords to the king. The right to
govern was hereditary and allowed the patricians to divide themselves from the lower class.
The patricians constructed a new government with a centuriate assembly, Senate, and two
co-consuls. The consuls were elected by the assembly and held the power similarly to a king for
a year.This allowed them to sustain their economic and political status, suppressing the
plebeians. Priesthood was another way patricians held more power. Since religion played a big
part of Rome, they were able to suppress the possibility of rebellion. The patricians claimed to
have special knowledge of the gods and had the power to punish offenders.
Patricians were met with conflicts when plebeians threatened to move out of Rome. The
Council of the Plebs was constructed in 494 BCE. In 287 BCE, the Lex Hortensia was passed,
requiring all citizens including patricians to abide by the same laws. Two officials were elected
by the Council to represent the plebeians, but was eventually increased to ten.
The plebeians began to control more of the government, even some rising to the level of a
dictator. As time passed, the patricians managed to maintain some power in the government, but
the idea of birthright had changed. Julius Caesar named new patricians to strengthen his power.
Emperor Augustus also named new patricians to create morality within the empire.
Olivia Lloyd
Mr. Tavernia
AP World/Period 4
Packet C
Social: Untouchables
There are four castes of Hindu society: the ​Brahmins, the Kshatriyas, the
Vaishyas, and the Shudras. ​However, there is one group of people that is excluded from
the caste system entirely. These people are referred to as the untouchables, or the Dalit.
Discrimination based on caste was outlawed by India, but despite these efforts,
discrimination still persists.
The untouchables performed jobs that were undesirable but necessary for society
to function. They had jobs that may have brought them into contact with flesh of dead
animals or human excrement. Four men in India were beaten for skinning the carcasses of
cows, despite how it was their job and they did not harm the sacred animal while it was
alive. Untouchables are not allowed to marry into families belonging to other castes, or
share the same food or drink. In some villages, people of other castes will not even risk
coming into contact with untouchables while doing business. They will have the
untouchable put the money on the ground, then they would pick it up, because they
thought even the ground was cleaner than the untouchables.
Hijaan Mitha
Mr. Tavernia
AP World Period 4
Packet C
Social: Untouchables
The Untouchables were a division in the hierarchy
of the Hindu religion. Followers of the religion
practiced a social system called the caste system,
in which there were four subdivisions that defined
one’s occupational and personal lives. However, the
Untouchables are not a part of this system. They
were so inferior to all other classes in the Indian
sub-continent that their place was even below the
general hierarchal system. Everyone avoided contact
with the Untouchables. Their daily lifestyle was
seen as filthy and unhealthy, as they performed
activities that dealt with dead animals, human
waste or even cattle, which was forbidden in their
society as they venerated the cow as one of their
holy gods. Therefore, all other sects of the caste
system refused to interact with them. As per
history, it has been said that people are either
born into the specific
caste or the sins of their
previous life have caused
them to enter the sect they
are in. Untouchables are
officially referred to as
the “Scheduled Caste.” In
the present day, the term
has been made illegal in
India as of 1949.
Varna
Varna is the four Hindu castes represented by the body. Varna literally means
“order or class” in Sanskrit. The four castes are the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas, the
Vaishyas, and the Shudras. The Brahmins are represented by the head and contain the
priests, scholars, and teachers. The Kshatriyas are the torso or arms and upper body
and contain the rulers, warriors, and administrators. The Vaishyas are represented by
the legs and contains the farmers, merchants, artisans, and herders. The Shudras was
the lowest caste represented by the feet which contained the laborers and service
providers. Within each of the castes there are sub-castes called jati. The total of the
sub-castes and the castes makes up varna. The system of dividing up the castes is
defined in the Rig Veda, one of the holy texts for the Hindu religion.
In the Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic, the varna is depicted in two
different ways. The first way shows the four castes as colors. Brahmins are white,
Kshatriyas are red, Vaishyas are yellow, and Shudras are black. The other depiction is
based off of behavioral patterns. The Brahmins were dedicated to truth, purity, and
cleanliness. The Kshatriyas focused on anger, pleasures, and boldness. The Vaishyas
were inclined to farming and cattle rearing as well as living by the plow. The Shudras
were characterized as being violent and impure.
The way that the Varna system was set up allowed for no social mobility within
one’s lifetime. This meant that whatever caste you were born into was your caste for
life, whether or not you have the aptitude or the desire to do what your caste was
required. The only way that you could move up in the caste system was through good
Karma that would translate to the next life. If you did good deeds in your previous life
and you completed all the duties of your specific caste, then you could move up in the
social system. To move up in the system you first had to die and be reborn.
There were also very specific rules as to who could marry and interact with one
another. There was very little interaction between castes and sometimes between
sub-castes. Often times there could be no marriage between sub-castes and there was
little to no interaction between people in different sub-castes.
Samantha Ross
Mr. Tavernia
AP World History P.4
Packet: C
Social: Varna
Varna is the four major social divisions of Indian history. The classes represent
the body of Purusha, a primordial creature. The four classes include Brahmin,
Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra. The Brahmin is the class in which priests are included
in. On the diagram, the Brahmin is represented as the mouth of the gods. The Kshatriya
is the class in which includes warriors and administrators. The arms represent this class
as the warriors fight. The Vaishya class includes the merchants and farmers. The thighs
represent this class. This is because the masses are full of work. The Shudra includes
the laborers. Dasa came to mean slave. The feet represented this class because the
dasas were constantly working on their feet. They were also at the bottom of the social
class structure just as feet are at the bottom of a person. The untouchables were not
included in Varna. They are excluded from the class system.
Kaitlyn Seese
Mr. Tavernia
AP World History P.4
Packet: C
Varna
Varna means the four major social divisions of Indian culture (the caste system). These
four classes represent the body of Purusha, a primordial creature. The highest class, Brahmin,
represents the mouth and is composed of priests. The next class, Kshatriya, symbolizes the arms
and is composed of warriors and the social elites. The third class, Vaishya, represents the thighs
and is composed of merchants, farmers, and artisans. The fourth class, the Shudra, represents the
feet and is composed of the laborers. This class may have been reserved for slaves or dasas.
Finally, the untouchables were people excluded from the caste system and were the lowest in
society. They were usually employed to sweep away the ashes of the dead, clean up the streets,
and clean up latrines. As the subdivision known as jati explains, everyone in Indian society
remained within their class throughout their lives. There was no social mobility. Citizens married
within their class and had a career that only people in their class would have. No one associated
themselves with the untouchables or they would be “contaminated.” The only way you could
move up a class is by obtaining good karma within that specific incarnation.
Sydney Stewart
Mr. Tavernia
AP World History Period 4
Packet C
Social: Jati
The caste system in India, in all functionality, is called Jati. The term Jati exists in almost every
Indian language. There are over 3000 different Jatis in India and there is no nation-wide system
to class every single one. Each jati has a special and specific job, however the entire jati does not
perform the same job. Therefore there are barbers that don’t shave and Brahmins that don’t act as
priests.
A jati is identified in a local setting by whom its members will accept food and water from and to
who they give food and water to.
The jati system is dynamic and jatis have moved up or down in Indian history. However, the
whole jati moves up, not just people in the jati. A jati can move up by emulating more affluent
jatis and advancing economically. To do this the members to the jari will change the jatis name
tio a more affluent one, become vegetarian, treat their women more conservatively, become more
orthodox and build a temple. If the jati can be accepted with their new name, history, and status
by other jatis, they will marry their daughters to members of the jati they are trying to join.
The Indian Government banned the practice of untouchability and has established quotas to help
lower jatis. Caste discrimination is no longer allowed in job offers and education and other
opportunities.
Shayaan Subzwari
Mr. Tavernia
AP World History/Period 4
Packet C
Social: Untouchables
Untouchables are people in a social group that is lower than others in society, and is
designated with carrying out despised jobs. It plays importance in the caste system of Hinduism
where they are known as Dalits, but also appears in other groups of peoples. The origin of a class
of untouchables in Hinduism is unclear, but it is mentioned in one text that one class of
untouchable occupations resulted from the union of Brahmin females and Shudra males. Dalits
are completely excluded from the Varna system and are considered to be separate from the other
castes. In modern day India, about 16% of the population consists of Dalits. They take up the
occupations that are thought of as impure by others, including leather tanning, butchering, trash
removal, animal carcasses removal, and removal of human waste. The untouchables were not
allowed to interact with members of the other
castes, and these people took extreme
measures so as to avoid any possible contact
with the Dalits. In India, Dalits are also
known as Panchama, and are sometimes
referred to as “The Persians of India”. After
the abolition of the caste system in politics in
modern day India, Dalits were more fairly
represented. In 1997, India elected its first Dalit President.
Noah Teixeira
Mr.Tavernia
AP World History Period 4
Packet C
Social: Patricians
​Patricians were the elite class of the Roman Empire. They were
wealthy and powerful individuals who were placed higher on the social
scale than the majority of the population. The poor, majority of the
population, called the Plebians, had many altercations with the
Patricians throughout the classical period. Plebeians refused to work
or fight in order to pressure the elite class to make political
concessions. Although the Plebians protested constantly, the
Patricians found a way to blunt the reforms by bringing plebian
leadership into an expanded elite. This relates to the social theme of
APWH because it has to do with social classes.
Kathryn Treacy
Mr. Tavernia
AP World History, Period 4
Packet C: Classical Civilizations
Development and Transformation of Social Structures:
Jati
Within the broad class divisions, the population was divided into numerous jati, or
birth groups. Each jati had its proper occupation, duties, and rituals. Individuals who
belonged to a specific jati lived with members of their group, married within the group,
and ate only with members of the group. Elaborate rulers governed their interactions with
members of other groups. Members of higher-status groups feared pollution from contact
with lower-caste individuals and had to undergo elaborate rituals of purification to remove
any taint.
In numerous societies and civilizations their social strictures tend to be different
from each other. However, in the western imperial social structure, south asia, and
chinese imperial social structure, what they all have in common is that they follow the
basic outline of elites on top, skilled workers/labor, unskilled workers/labor, and coerced
labor. Although who is in which category tends to change, the order of the social structure
does not. This shows the development and transformation of imperial social structures.