Wang Mang's Social Hierarchies Summary

Arya Rawal
Miss Haselton
AP World History - Period 6
24 September 2015
Chapter 6 IDs - Eurasian Social Hierarchies
Thesis Statement:

1. Wang Mang: A recurring obstacle in China was the hoarding of land by wealthy families. In 8 C.E., a tribunal official named Wang Mang seeked to end this problem, and took control of the throne. He had strong beliefs in Confucian values, and set out to reform the empire and promote equality between all social classes by abolishing debt slavery, sending loans to the poor, and putting restrictions on the amount of land a higher class estate could own. Though his intentions were pure, enforcing these rules over a vast empire proved to be difficult, and Wang Mang was assassinated in 23 C.E., ending his empire.

Caste as Varna and Jati: By 500 B.C.E., India had developed a rigid hierarchical structure, called varna. It included four distinct classes, which determined how high or low one was socially ranked. The Brahmin class consisted of priests amd scholars, and were of the highest rank in Indian society. Next came the Ksatriya warriors, Vaisya merchants, and finally the Sudras. Sudras were the lowest class and often found themselves working the jobs no one else wanted, such as sweeping, cremating, and executing. Jati was a sub-category within each caste group, outlining the duties each person must abide by. Jati class could sometimes be adjusted due to the acquisition of wealth or by simply behaving in the way someone of a higher class would. The Varna and Jati systems of caste in India were heavily influenced by the teachings presented in Hinduism. When Hinduism began, Brahmin priests were paid to conduct rituals and prayers. As they gained wealth and control over daily life, they rose to the top of the social caste system. When the Aryans conquered India, they forced the country’s indigenous peoples to assimilate, and pushed them to the bottom levels of social hierarchy. These people made up the majority of the Sudra class. (Social, Political, Cultural,

Developed in 500 B.C.E., the caste system placed Vaisyas below Ksatriyas but above Sudras, explaining that they emerged from the thighs of the Purusha. Making up this social class were the artisanal workers, farmers, traders, and merchants. They provided the Indian Empire with economic stability, as they supplied food and outside goods. (Social, Cultural, Economic)

13. Ksatriya: The Indian caste system developed in 500 B.C.E. The Ksatriyas were the second-highest ranking, being one level under the Brahmin priests and scholars. Kshatriyas were believed to have emerged from the shoulders of the Purusha. This hierarchical class included the warriors, rulers, and political leaders. They kept the empire’s borders safe and fought off invaders, while maintaining control within India’s boundaries by establishing rules and regulations. (Social, Political, Cultural)

14. Untouchables: The untouchables were not originally part of the Indian caste