Social Classes Throughout History

Social classes have been present in societies all throughout history. They have progressed and evolved through the years, but the basis of class distinctions still remains the same. The Aryan social classes in society are very comparable to the social classes of the United State’s society. In Athens social classes are very much alike the classes that are present today in the United States, however in both of these societies there are many differences when contrasted with the United States’ social classes. These classes are present mainly for the need of individuals’ identification. These class distinctions benefit and hinder a society in different manners, but they will always be present, for the society could not exist without class distinctions.

The Aryan society is divided up into five different social classes, while the United States has a society that appears to be divided into three different social classes. The Aryan society was divided into five social classes, the top being the Brahmins, then the Kshatriyas, then the Vaisyus, then the Sudras, then, separate from the previous, the Pariahs. The Brahmins, or priests, were able to place themselves at the top of society because they claimed that only they could bestow divinity and protection onto the king. The Kshatriyas came next, who were the warriors, because they ensured the kings and kingdoms protection. The Vaisyus, who were herders, farmers, artisans, and merchants, fell into their class position because they were the people left who were still Aryans. The Sudras were outsiders in the Aryan society, the non-Aryans; they were the farm workers and laborers who took the jobs they could get because others felt they did not belong. The Pariahs were a class apart from the other four classes; they were the outcasts of society and were treated as such, not being associated with. The United States social class appears to be divided into four main parts, the upper class, which is 3.6% of society, the working class, which is 45.7% of society, the middle class, which is 43.4% of society, and the lower class, which is 7.3% of society. The upper class consists of individuals who are very financially stable; they are the high people in society with prestigious occupations. The working class is the class where general common laborers fall into; the majority of people are in this class. The middle class is the management and slightly more high profile jobs than the working class in the United States society; they make up a large portion of society. The lower class consists of people who are generally unemployed and this class tends to be looked down upon in the United States society. While classes are divided in both the United States and Aryan societies, they are divided into very different groups.