caste system( manusmriti)

manu  the  great  king from whom people descended, incidently was  a sage too, formulated the caste system in earlier days with four main categories, differentiating people according to.their characteristics the shudras-those serving society, the vaishyas-those with skills and abilities that enabled them to be engaged in trade,commerce.and business. the kshatriyas-those who administrate and execute projects to protect the community at large, and the brahmins- those who are contemplative,philosophical,impart knowledge and perform religious rites.. its to be noted that a person could rise from lower group to a higher group and through criminal and antisocial behavior, descend groups.. manu said "neither birth nor sacraments study nor ancestry can decide whether a person is a brahmin or not. character and conduct alone can decide.