The textbook: Von Sivers, Peter; Charles A. Desnoyers & George B. Stow. Patterns of World History. Third edition. London & New York: Oxford University Press, 2018. ISBN: XXXXXXXXXXSorry, I can't...

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Title: Caste System
Contents
Part I    3
2. Merits and Demerits of Caste System    3
Part II    4
Harappan Society Established around    4
Explanations for the Downfall of Harappan Society    4
Aryans or Indo-Europeans and their Influence on India    5
Castes and their Emergence    5
Rig Vedas and its Teaching of Ancient Indian Societies    5
Works Cited    7
Part I
2. Merits and Demerits of Caste System
The Indian Caste System used to be a very rigid system when it emerged. People faced a number of problems in dealing and maintaining the rigid rules of every caste, whereas there were also many people, who used to be benefitted from this system (Von Sivers et al.). From today’s perspective if the situation is analyzed, then it would be easier to identify that the age-old system of dividing the society into various castes actually carried both advantages and disadvantages.
Some of its advantages are—
· It protected the common people from being influenced by the religious systems of the foreign invaders.
· It helped Hinduism preserve its authenticity and orthodoxy by instructing people strictly to follow their respective caste rules
· It also prevented people from going astray in their lives or practicing malpractices that are originally prohibited in Hinduism (Marriott).
· It also gave the opportunity to know one’s culture and roots in depth.
On the other hand, it also carried multiple disadvantages such as—
· It gave birth to a number illogical, baseless and harsh rules, which made the lives of the common people worse, especially those of the lower castes groups
· It has no provisions for needy people such as those economically poor, widowed, abandoned, or simply the female gender (Bhattacharyya).
· It broke the feeling of nationalism or oneness amongst the compatriots, which is why class system emerged and people began hating others from different castes.
· In the name of god, religion as well as chastity there began occurring a number of malpractices and corrupt practices such as Sati Pratha, Child Marriage and Animal Sacrifices that it became extremely difficult for the people of lower caste groups even to survive in the society (Mosse).
Part II
Harappan Society Established...