UPSC Prelims · General Studies

Ancient, medieval & culture

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History of India: ancient and medieval / Post-Mauryan India and the Sangam age

Kinship, caste and class in early India

Varna duties in Dharmasutras and Manusmriti, jatis beyond varna, occupations and mobility
Gotra, exogamy and endogamy, eight forms of marriage, Satavahana metronymics as exception
Inheritance schools: Mitakshara (sons' right by birth) versus Dayabhaga (right after father's death); both not caste-based
Chandalas and untouchability in Manusmriti and Fa-hien's account
The Mahabharata critical edition and how historians read epic for social history

Where to study

Theme 3 Kinship, Caste and Class, pp. 1-29 (printed 53-81)
Theme 3 Kinship, Caste and Class, 3. Social Differences: Within and Beyond the Framework of Caste, pp. 9-14 (printed 61-66)
Theme 3 Kinship, Caste and Class, 2. Kinship and Marriage: Many Rules and Varied Practices; Eight forms of marriage; Names of Satavahana kings from inscriptions, pp. 3-8 (printed 55-60)
Theme 3 Kinship, Caste and Class, 4. Beyond Birth: Resources and Status, pp. 16-19 (printed 68-71)
Theme 3 Kinship, Caste and Class, 3. Social Differences (Beyond the four varnas: Integration and subordination), pp. 13-15 (printed 65-67)
Theme 3 Kinship, Caste and Class, 1. The Critical Edition of the Mahabharata; 6. Handling Texts: Historians and the Mahabharata; 7. A Dynamic Text, p. 2 (printed 54)
Theme 3 Kinship, Caste and Class, 6. Handling Texts: Historians and the Mahabharata; 7. A Dynamic Text, pp. 20-26 (printed 72-78)