HISTORY
ANCIENT INDIA
|
Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
|
|
|
They were born into whatever caste their parents belonged to.
|
|
|
At age 12, children were tested over skills and knowledge to see where their achievement placed them.
|
|
|
The priests assigned the caste when a child reached adulthood.
|
|
|
Everyone began life as a Dalit, but moved up if they pleased the gods.
|
Detailed explanation-1: -According to this, Karma determines birth into a class, which in turn defines one’s social and religious status, which in turn describes one’s duties and obligations to that specific status.
Detailed explanation-2: -Thus, caste is concerned with birth. According to Anderson and Parker, “Caste is that extreme form of social class organization in which the position of individuals in the status hierarchy is determined by descent and birth.”
Detailed explanation-3: -untouchable, also called Dalit, officially Scheduled Caste, formerly Harijan, in traditional Indian society, the former name for any member of a wide range of low-caste Hindu groups and any person outside the caste system.
Detailed explanation-4: -’Varna’ defines the hereditary roots of a newborn, it indicates the colour, type, order or class of people. Four principal categories are defined: Brahmins (priests, gurus, etc.), Kshatriyas (warriors, kings, administrators, etc.), Vaishyas (agriculturalists, traders, etc., also called Vysyas), and Shudras (labourers).
Detailed explanation-5: -In their words, “The reign of the ardent Hindu Gupta rulers, known as the age of Vedic Brahminism, was marked by strictures laid down in Dharmasastra… enforced through the powerful state machinery. These strictures and enforcements resulted in a shift to endogamy.” In other words, caste was born.