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Social Hierarchy in Classical China and India: A Comparative Analysis

Explore the social structures of classical China and India, focusing on the hierarchy, caste system, slavery, and patriarchies. Understand the similarities and differences between these civilizations.

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Social Hierarchy in Classical China and India: A Comparative Analysis

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  1. Chapter 6 Margin Review Questions

  2. How would you describe the social hierarchy of classical China? • Top-emperor's officials-represent cultural and social elite • Were largely from landowning class • By 1 B.C.E., due to population growth, taxation and indebtedness, most peasants become tenant farmers • Elite view merchants as unproductive and shameful. Will become wealthy and have sons educated so they can become civil servants

  3. What set of ideas underlay India’s caste-based society? • Interaction among culturally diverse peoples and the development of economic and social differences between them. • By 500 B.C.E-clear belief that society was organized into four great classes-determined by birth (Varnas) • Three class were pure-Aryans- Brahmins/priests, Ksatriyas/warrior-rulers and Vaisyas/peasants

  4. Sudras were the indigenous people • Reality-there was some social mobility in the classical period-the emergence of a merchant class and the untouchables (Verna System) • Jatis System-blended with the Verna system to classify Indian social life into one of the three great classes or the untouchables-this was done within each region and village

  5. What is the difference between varna and jati as expressions of classical India’s caste system? • Varna is older and provided broad categories of social hierarchy which explained social inequalities • Jatis were occupationally based groups that split the varnas and the untouchables into thousands of smaller groupings based on occupation each with its own set of duties, rules and obligations

  6. How did India’s caste system differ from China’s class system? • India-priority to religious status and ritual purity • China-elevated political officials to the highest of elite positions • Caste divided into vast number of distinctive social groups • China-broad social groups

  7. How did Greco-Roman slavery differ from that of other classical civilizations? • More dependent on slaves • More (numbers) slaves • Greater range of occupations-high to low • Excluded from military service

  8. How did the patriarchies of Athens and Sparta differ from each other? • Athens-placed increased limitations on women from 700 to 400 B.C.E. • Athens- excluded women from public life • Athens-needed a guardian in legal matters-not referred to by name • Athens- restricted at home-lived separately from men • Athens-women married in mid teens to men ten to fifteen years older • Athens-land passed through male heirs

  9. Sparta-women more freedom • Sparta-fear of helot rebellion-greater value on male warriors • Sparta-women central task-produce males • Sparta-women participated in public sporting events • Sparta-Married own age • Sparta-participated in warfare and more authority in the house • Like Athens, women in Sparta lacked any formal public role

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