The+Caste+System

= ** Web Assignment **  =

Social Structure and Society - "The Caste System"
//Introduction//

In Chapter 5 you read about social structure - the underlying patterns of relationships in a group. Statuses and roles are the major elements of social structure. A status, a position a person occupies within a social structure, may be ascribed or achieved. Achieving status is possible when people have some degree of control and choice, as they do in most modern societies. In some societies, however, aspects of a person's life such as religion and social class are ascribed by the family at birth. In this activity you will learn more about a country that has long used a system of ascribed status—India. Destination Title: The Caste System Note: Clicking on the link above will launch a new browser window.

**Directions:**

Start at the Library of Congress's India: Country Studies site. * Scroll down to Chapter 5 and click on Caste and Class. Read through the information, taking notes as you go.

**Use what you have learned to answer the following questions.**

1. In order from highest to lowest, what are the five levels of varna within the caste system in India?

2. How is each of the five varna classes expected to act in society?

3. Who is in charge of handling violations of caste law? What are some examples of the punishments that can be given out?

4. What influence did the British government and the preindependence movements of Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar have on the caste system? Submit your answers in an email using your nasdmail.org account.