I've heard it that it was originally a system of work division and on the other hand, I've heard that it is a system of oppression. I think it was a system of both. But what do actual historians think? How did the caste system start?
I've always been taught that the present Hindu caste system has existed since ancient times... written by u/agentdcf and When was the Indian Caste System truly introduced in the Indian society with a brief written by u/roelm2 and a longer answer written by u/artfulorpheus