History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v3.c41.10

v3.c41.10

We stated in our first volume that Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaiśyas formed undivided castes during the first sub-period (600-800). They remained so during the second sub-period also (800-1000 A. D.). But during the third sub-period, each of these castes became split into hundreds of sub-castes as inscriptions prove. The reasons were apparently, as shown above, 1st, a difference of food; 2nd, ideas of racial purity and 3rd, different social customs prevailing in different countries. We will take each of these castes separately and show how it became subdivided in this sub-period.