The term caste is not an Indian word, however the caste system in India is the paradigmatic ethnographic example of caste. It has origins in ancient India, and was transformed by various ruling elites in medieval, early-modern, and, modern India, especially the Mughal Empire and theBritish Raj. The caste system divides Hindus into four main categories - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the Shudras. ... The main castes were further divided into about 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes, each based on their specific occupation. Outside of this Hindu caste system were the achhoots - the Dalits or the untouchables.
:)were learning about ancient India in history at my school too
