PPT: Kinship, Caste and Class | History Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

 Page 1


Kinship, Caste and 
Class in Ancient India.
Page 2


Kinship, Caste and 
Class in Ancient India.
Social Changes from 600 BCE to 600 CE
1
Agricultural Expansion
Extension of agriculture into forested areas transformed the lives of forest dwellers
2
Craft Specialization
Craft specialists emerged as distinct social groups
3
Wealth Inequality
Unequal distribution of wealth sharpened social differences
This period saw significant changes in economic and political life that influenced social structures. 
Historians use textual traditions, inscriptions, and other evidence to understand these processes, keeping 
in mind the perspectives and biases of different sources.
Page 3


Kinship, Caste and 
Class in Ancient India.
Social Changes from 600 BCE to 600 CE
1
Agricultural Expansion
Extension of agriculture into forested areas transformed the lives of forest dwellers
2
Craft Specialization
Craft specialists emerged as distinct social groups
3
Wealth Inequality
Unequal distribution of wealth sharpened social differences
This period saw significant changes in economic and political life that influenced social structures. 
Historians use textual traditions, inscriptions, and other evidence to understand these processes, keeping 
in mind the perspectives and biases of different sources.
The Mahabharata: A Window into Ancient 
Society
Epic Composition
Composed over 1,000 years (c. 
500 BCE onwards)
Contains stories that may have 
circulated even earlier
Central Narrative
Story of two sets of warring 
cousins
Explores themes of duty, honor, 
and social norms
Social Insights
Depicts a wide range of social 
categories and situations
Includes sections on norms of 
behavior for various groups
The Mahabharata serves as a rich source for understanding ancient Indian society, offering insights into 
social norms, relationships, and conflicts. Its complex narrative and long composition period reflect the 
evolving nature of Indian society.
Page 4


Kinship, Caste and 
Class in Ancient India.
Social Changes from 600 BCE to 600 CE
1
Agricultural Expansion
Extension of agriculture into forested areas transformed the lives of forest dwellers
2
Craft Specialization
Craft specialists emerged as distinct social groups
3
Wealth Inequality
Unequal distribution of wealth sharpened social differences
This period saw significant changes in economic and political life that influenced social structures. 
Historians use textual traditions, inscriptions, and other evidence to understand these processes, keeping 
in mind the perspectives and biases of different sources.
The Mahabharata: A Window into Ancient 
Society
Epic Composition
Composed over 1,000 years (c. 
500 BCE onwards)
Contains stories that may have 
circulated even earlier
Central Narrative
Story of two sets of warring 
cousins
Explores themes of duty, honor, 
and social norms
Social Insights
Depicts a wide range of social 
categories and situations
Includes sections on norms of 
behavior for various groups
The Mahabharata serves as a rich source for understanding ancient Indian society, offering insights into 
social norms, relationships, and conflicts. Its complex narrative and long composition period reflect the 
evolving nature of Indian society.
The Critical Edition of the Mahabharata
Project Initiation
Began in 1919 under V.S. Sukthankar's leadership
Manuscript Collection
Gathered Sanskrit manuscripts from across India
Comparative Analysis
Developed method to compare verses from each manuscript
Publication
Selected common verses published in over 13,000 pages
Project Completion
T ook 47 years to complete
This ambitious scholarly project revealed both common elements across versions and significant regional 
variations, reflecting the complex processes that shaped early social histories through dialogues between 
dominant traditions and local practices.
Page 5


Kinship, Caste and 
Class in Ancient India.
Social Changes from 600 BCE to 600 CE
1
Agricultural Expansion
Extension of agriculture into forested areas transformed the lives of forest dwellers
2
Craft Specialization
Craft specialists emerged as distinct social groups
3
Wealth Inequality
Unequal distribution of wealth sharpened social differences
This period saw significant changes in economic and political life that influenced social structures. 
Historians use textual traditions, inscriptions, and other evidence to understand these processes, keeping 
in mind the perspectives and biases of different sources.
The Mahabharata: A Window into Ancient 
Society
Epic Composition
Composed over 1,000 years (c. 
500 BCE onwards)
Contains stories that may have 
circulated even earlier
Central Narrative
Story of two sets of warring 
cousins
Explores themes of duty, honor, 
and social norms
Social Insights
Depicts a wide range of social 
categories and situations
Includes sections on norms of 
behavior for various groups
The Mahabharata serves as a rich source for understanding ancient Indian society, offering insights into 
social norms, relationships, and conflicts. Its complex narrative and long composition period reflect the 
evolving nature of Indian society.
The Critical Edition of the Mahabharata
Project Initiation
Began in 1919 under V.S. Sukthankar's leadership
Manuscript Collection
Gathered Sanskrit manuscripts from across India
Comparative Analysis
Developed method to compare verses from each manuscript
Publication
Selected common verses published in over 13,000 pages
Project Completion
T ook 47 years to complete
This ambitious scholarly project revealed both common elements across versions and significant regional 
variations, reflecting the complex processes that shaped early social histories through dialogues between 
dominant traditions and local practices.
Kinship and Marriage: Many Rules and 
Varied Practices
Finding out about families
1
2
3
4
Understanding family life and kinship in ancient India requires examining various sources and recognizing 
the diversity of practices. Historians investigate both elite and ordinary families, as well as attitudes 
towards family and kinship that shaped people's actions and social structures.
Family Structures
Varied in size, relationships, 
and shared activities
Kinship Networks
Families part of larger 
networks of relatives or 
kinfolk
Cultural Definitions
Familial ties defined 
differently across societies
Historical Challenges
Difficult to reconstruct familial 
relationships of ordinary 
people