Interdependence Among Social Classes
The Feudal System
The Caste System
Organizing Society
Societies have always organized themselves into some sort of classes.
Sometimes, these classes are well-defined with known privileges and responsibilities that come along with membership in the class.
Sometimes, it isn’t so well-defined.
was a very organized political and social system common in medieval Europe.
Under feudalism, all land in the country belonged to the king.
The King gives out parcels of land to the lords and nobles who fought for him. These gifts of land were called fiefs.
Organization
The Lord would then execute his estate like a small town.
Serfs and peasants worked the land and harvested the crops. Peasants could not own land or hope to rise to a better social standing.
Taxes were not paid in money, but in percentages of crops paid to the Lord who paid his taxes to the king.
It was the responsibility of the king and the lords to protect the villages in times of war.
Each group within the feudal system was dependent on the other, but there was no movement between classes.
Today, the term “caste” is used to describe stratified societies based on hereditary groups.
Spiritual leaders and teachers were called Brahmins. Brahmins were considered the embodiment of purity. Physical contact between the Brahmin & the fifth class was absolutely prohibited.
Warriors and nobility were called Kshatriyas.
Merchants and producers were called Vaishyas.
Laborers were called Sudras.
The fifth class in Hinduism did all the dirty work. They were referred to as “untouchables”.
Egypt’s Social Pyramid
Ancient Egyptian society can be envisioned like a giant social pyramid.
At the top of the pyramid were the gods.
Ruling (governing) class
Soldiers
Pharoah, the highest leader, was considered to be a god in human form.
They directed the nation politically and religiously.
Scribes, responsible for keeping government records.
Craftsmen and merchants made up a sort of middle class. They made and sold jewelry, pottery and other goods in the market.
Farmers tended the fields, maintained the canals and worked in the quarries. They paid up to 60% of their harvest in taxes to Pharoah.
The slaves were largely captured in war and were made to serve the Pharoah by building monuments or whatever work the government decided it needed.