Preview

Similarities Between Ancient India

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
308 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Similarities Between Ancient India
The laws and guidelines of ancient India have many similarities to the laws and guidelines of other ancient civilizations we've studied in the past two weeks. In the "Law of Manu" we see the creation of the caste system, a system which places people in predisposed social classes which dictate your profession and your worth. The classes range from the Brahman which are the highest ranked people within the society, to the Shuda which are the least ranked and known to be the servants of the upper classes. This inequality amongst the peoples is very similar to the "Code of Hammurabi" where there are normal citizens and slaves, the Code establishes lesser punishments for citizens which victimize slaves compared if they were to do the same to another

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Cornell Notes Chapter 6

    • 1338 Words
    • 14 Pages

    Jati and Varna came together to create India’s caste system. 5. India’s caste system gave priority to religious status and ritual purity while China’s class system elevated political Name: ________________________________ Date: _________________________________ Notes: ● “Scheduled caste” known as Chambar, formally known as “untouchables”= lowest category in India’s ranked society ● Mahatma Gandhi sought to raise status of “untouchables” referring to them as Harijan or “children of God” ● Caste, class, patriarchy, slavery are not vanished ● First civilizations were sharply divided along class lines, and they too were patriarchal with women clearly subordinate to men in most domains of life China ● Its better if you know connections to get higher 6. 7. 8. 9. officials to the highest of elite position.…

    • 1338 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hammurabi had a code that he used to help rule his empire. The code said that people would be penalized for criminal offenses and he used the “Eye for an eye” system. His code also said that parents had to arrange marriages for their children and women were far less privileged. Adultery was also taken seriously. Men could sleep with…

    • 2240 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    If loss of egalitarian values were a detrimental factor in the formation of river valley then the scale of hierarchy, patriarchy, and monarchy in the second wave empires could be considered ruinous. This unfair treatment of human beings was an unfortunate trait that both civilizations and empires shared. Hierarchies of class came about as one of the major turning points of human history in the first civilizations though unequal distribution of wealth and resources, ant were solidified by laws that kept them in place. In Mesopotamia, the Code of Hammurabi declared that if a commoner was strike to a man of his rank he would only have to pay a small fine, but if he dared to touch a man of a senior rank he would be reprimanded severely by being publicly whipped. Likewise, class differences played an important role in second-wave civilizations. In the Mauryan and Gupta empires, the caste system was an indicator of spiritual development, one 's position, and whether or not they were pure. Additionally, under Qin and Han dynasties there was sever class hierarchy with dominance of bureaucratic elites which gave rise to peasant rebellions. Patriarchy was also present in both river-valley societies and second wave empires. What started out as men and women playing equal roles in society soon turned to women staying at home and taking care of children while men went out to farm and fight in wars. This led to ideology that men were to be regarded as higher than women in society. Evidence of this can also be observed in Mesopotamian laws which dictated that men could hold certain privileges while women could not, such as being considered as a victim of rape. This way of thinking can also be found in Roman society. Centuries of empire building and warfare led to idea that a man could hold absolute control over his wife and had the right to kill her…

    • 1326 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    When analyzing cultural traditions and innovations, economic relationships, and social classifications and expectations during/between the periods of classical China and classical India. Classical China lasted from 2000 B.C.E - 600 C.E, while classical India lasted from 600 B.C.E – 600 C.E. There are quite a few similarities and differences between these two civilizations. With regards to cultural traditions and innovations both developed similar technologies in their period. Spoken language was introduced in China during the Zhou Dynasty. Also in India, Sanskrit was the language of educated people.. India and China were similar as agricultural societies. Both civilizations relied on a large peasant class, organized in tight villages with much mutual cooperation. Both societies had a caste system where the citizens were ranked. This caste system organized into special groups that determined everything from your job, to your political rights, to your religious beliefs, and who you would marry. Lastly, social classifications and expectations played a big role in China and India, and how they treated women. China and India differed in their treatment because in India (patriarchal society), women were to treat men almost as Gods. In China, Confucianism had important implications for women, recommending their good treatment, but in the context they were still inferior to men.…

    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The foundations were set for these two Classical developing empires: China, separated from other developing empires and India, supported by them. While both Classical China and India had hierarchy’s based on agriculture and organized patriarchal societies, India developed multiple institutions, such as language, while China developed one united dialect.…

    • 713 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mesopotamia Social System

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Caste system is a way to categorize people in society by their ethnicity and job status. This was also hereditary and would pass from generation to generation. The caste system, though it shares the classes that many ancient civilizations followed, did not necessarily influence them at all. Some theorize that if that were the case others would have a more defined class system rather than based on wealth and status, which most of them did. Rather some historians theorize these caste came from a war and fighting with the Dravidians, the dominate group in that area.(aqrobatiq, 2015) How ever the system formed it stuck, with almost impossible odds against someone to change their caste in life. The Caste system formed out of the natural self organization that humans do when lacking a bureaucratic system in place like Egypt and Mesopotamia, The levels of the Caste system from top to bottom…

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Chapter 3 review

    • 341 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Caste System developed in India by a separation of the people due to the social hierarchy and the economical differences between them. Depending on their caste, the people were treated differently even though they lived side by side each other. The Caste system being developed allowed the “conquers” and the “conquered” to live in harmony.…

    • 341 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hammurabi and Law Codes

    • 895 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The social aspects of the law codes of Hammurabi and Ashoka differ greatly. Ashoka’s laws reflected a strong belief in ethics and dharma resulting in a dynasty that lacked a caste system. Hammurabi’s laws on the other hand, focused more on punishment and social status. Mortality took a strong hold in Ashoka’s laws mainly because Buddhism and Jainism influenced his views. These two religions rejected the Hindu belief of the caste system and also influenced Ashokas definition of Dharma. One law plainly stated, “Dharma is good, but what does Dharma consist of? It consists of a few sins and many good deeds, of kindness, liberty, truthfulness, and purity.” This law clearly satisfied the views of all the religions making sure mortality and all followed dharma. Ashokas laws being based off religious ideas also encouraged ethical social behavior. Ashoka let his people define their own views on mortality as long as they were moral in daily life giving them more flexibility. Ashoka’s law code had also set into place Mortality Ministers who were used to promote consciousness social behavior throughout his empire. This was because mortality and “self” were two highly promoted ideas and kept crime rates low. Asoka ‘s laws on punishment were influenced by the Buddhist and Jain religion’s dislike of violence. His laws lacked severe punishment because of these views, but Ashoka made it clear that he had the right to punish despite his beliefs in order to lower the crime rate. In contrast, Hammurabi’s laws were solely based on the enforcement of the social…

    • 895 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The gender structure of ancient Egypt and India is different in many different ways. Most of these things change as time goes by but back then most of them are really different. In Egypt women were granted more freedom while in India women were like property's and were controlled by completing every men in their family.(Anne Wallace Sharp, S. Kambitsis) In India if a woman husband die, she is not allowed to remarry and can not be independent. (S. Kambitsis) While in Egypt remarrying is totally normal and fine. If a marriage isn't working well in Egypt, the two needs to solve it quietly and the wife would go back to her parents home. (Anne Wallace) The hot weather in Egypt caused everyone including men and women to shave their head and wear wigs.(Anne Wallace) The weather in India is not that bad so they all still have their own hair and women really liked to accessories.(S.Kambitsis) Man of higher Varna in India is allowed by law to take any woman he wished. He can also sell his wife and children if he wanted or needed to.(essortment.com) Women in Egypt are treated with respect and they were as equal as men. (Anne Wallace)…

    • 369 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ap Ikat

    • 267 Words
    • 1 Page

    The ancient Indian people has a caste system goes like this Brahmin (Priest), Chetri Kshatriya, (Ruler & Warrior) Vaishya, (Merchant, Trader, and Artisan) Shudra, (Farmer and Laborer) and Untouchables. This caste system has been used throughout their whole history and will never change. With such a consistent system that is why they have last as long as they did.…

    • 267 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Changes and continuities of religious practices and customs of India and the Indus River Valley are very prevalent. As the Indus River Valley transitioned into India, changes in religious customs began to occur. One of these changes was in the social hierarchy. Stricter caste systems began to appear. Another change was that of enforcement of religion in society. While there were no official religions of the Indus River Valley, Hinduism became the authorized religion of India. With all of this change, there were still many of the same beliefs as the civilization developed. One of the major continuities was the belief in reincarnation. Reincarnation was a large part of the Indus River Valley and of Hinduism in…

    • 118 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    It is easy to understand that in traditional pre-modern societies which saw very little change, uniform submission to the established custom and usage was the norm. For example in pre-industrial India which was feudal and agrarian, the priestly community held sway and monarchs ruled with absolute power. In such stagnant and conservative times, hardly anybody deviated from the standard custom and practice. Untouchables hardly aspired to rise above their station in society as menials, people followed the hereditary profession of their community, women submitted to the authority of men and widows hardly dared to…

    • 1559 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The hierarchy of ancient China and India were similar with a noticeable sign of select individuals being considered “higher” than others. The caste system was strict in India and prohibited other classes from interacting with each other. China’s social system differed from India’s caste system, by not demonstrating a formal and strict social ladder. Where in India there existed over three hundred sub castes at one point, China had a simple three caste social ladder. Although the Chinese did not have as strong of a social ladder, there still existed “higher” people such as the bureaucrats. Bureaucrats and landowners were considered to be of a higher class then peasants, farmers, and merchants. Patriarchy was a very big factor in culture and social order in China and India. India’s strict caste system led to a more “flexible” and popular religion known as Hinduism. Many Indians preferred this religion over Buddhism, which the Chinese practiced, because the brahmans or priests strongly influenced the population. Brahmans and many other Indians did not like the idea of any being of any caste level achieving “peace” by their efforts, which Buddhism taught. The Chinese believed in Buddhism and reaching nirvana by finding peace within. A major difference between Indian and Chinese culture was that Indians lived to die and reincarnate to a better caste level and eventually reaching the gods, whereas the Chinese lived a good life with no rituals necessary to find nirvana. Although the Chinese and Indian culture was very different, both races strived and lived in balance to find their gift in the…

    • 266 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ancient India and Ancient China have as many similarities as they do differences. Over many decades of being so close they have had very little run-ins with one another. They have thrived living by the basic principles of a peaceful co-existence society. They have accepted each other’s differences and come to realize just how many similarities they have. Today it is almost impossible the see where the lines of separation between these two great dominating countries lies. With a combined population of 2.3 billion people, both China and India are the most populous countries in the world. They account for two-fifths of humanity. Though the size of their population is very similar in numbers they have very different rules regarding their continued population. Ancient India has never controlled nor dictated to their citizens just how large a family can be. Ancient China however has always had a very strict one child policy when it comes to repopulating their country. Each family in China is only allowed to have one child per household. The children were also treated very differently between India and China. Ancient Indians considered their children to be of equal value and Ancient Chinese frown upon having female children and almost worshiped the male children. This was also a huge difference in the society when it came to men and women. Before about 500 B.C. women of Ancient India were treated as equals to men. They were allowed to get the same education, hold the same jobs, and be involved with political issues. However after the Islamic invasion of Babur and the Mughal Empire women in India were starting to be treated more like the women of Ancient China. They were being handled like second rate citizens and their equal rights were being taken away a little at a time. In Ancient India and Ancient China the father was always considered to be the…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Hindu Caste System

    • 867 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Caste System determines the wealth, power and privilege of all human beings. But aside from the belief in tradition and order the Caste System brings about inequality and injustice towards many of society. Members of the higher castes enjoy all kinds of privileges, whereas the lower caste of society are deprived of all privileges, more than 160 million people in India alone are considered "Untouchable.” Oppression plays a huge role during the early ages of the Caste System. The Untouchables were made to fear all those that dominated above them, they were treated inhumanely, Untouchables live in continual fear of being publicly humiliated, paraded naked, beaten, and raped by upper-caste Hindus in reassurance to keep them in place. They were deprived all choice of social, religious, economic, cultural and political rights and privileges. This is considered inequality as the Untouchables have done nothing to deserve such punishment. Walking through an upper-caste neighbourhood is a dangerous wrongdoing. During the beginning of the 1900’s was the time in which justice…

    • 867 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays