The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c6.44

c6.44

Divisions and Restrictions. As society grew more complex and economic development led to further sub-division of labour, the four castes, particularly the last two, would split into numerous sub-castes. The effect of permanent settlement in different regions which could not easily communicate with one another would be further to sub-divide castes on the basis of locality. But this process does not seem to have gone to any considerable length in the age of the Rigveda. Nor is inter-marriage among the three higher castes barred or hedged round with such restrictions as appear in the Dharma Sūtras, not to speak of the Dharma Śāstras, of later ages.²