Assignment 5: Sub Castes of the High Castes

While you know by now the High Castes’ names and purpose, along with much of their practices, it’s important to know how the taxonomy of professions works withing a caste. These professions are in effect, sub castes- an example being that Warriors have different functions in their overall profession- and as such you have Tarnsmen who while Warrriors are distinctly different than an Archer/Bowman would be, both in terms of skills, but also in terms of societal value. Choose three High Castes and give at least 4 examples of a subcaste within, explaining why that would be the right categorization along with an short dissertation on the value of that subcaste to society as a whole and its value within the Caste itself. Contrast this with the distinctiveness and narrow definitions of lower castes.

This exercise will help you to understand how Free society on Gor is arranged, and something of the hierarchical nature of professions and contribution to community and global life on Gor.

Helpful Links to start off : http://members.aol.com/UbarLuther/Scroll32.html

 

 

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Assignment:

Sub Caste of Scribes

The High Caste of Scribes has quite a few Sub Castes such as Lawyers, Scholars, Record Keepers, Teachers, Clerks, Historians, Accountants, Geographers, and Cartographers.

Sub Caste of Warriors

The High Caste Of Warriors The books do not explicitly state that there are any subcastes to the Warrior Caste but it seems reasonable that some do exist such as Tarnsmen and Tharlarion Cavalrymen. It can be difficult at times to differentiate between what would be considered an actual subcaste and what would simply be considered a different position. A City Guardsman may simply be a possible position and not an actual subcaste. It generally seems that subcastes possess certain skills that others may not. Being a City Guardsman does not really take special skills but obviously a Tarnsman would.

Sub Castes of Builders

The High Caste of Builders has a few Sub Castes such as Architects, Draftsmen, Stonemasons and others. In general, they are the builders and inventors of Gor. The Glass of the Builders, a telescope, is one of their inventions. They also created the energy bulb, a special type of light bulb, over a century ago.

Sub Castes of Physicians

Though it is not explicit in the books, it seems logical that many medical specializations would form subcastes of the Physician's Caste. Obstetrics, immunology, pediatrics, and such would make valid subcastes. Certain other specializations would not be necessary on Gor so would be unlikely to form subcastes. Dentistry, psychiatry and geriatrics are fields where the need on Gor is low so they are unlikely to form full subcastes. Major cities would have a Cylinder of Physicians as they do in Ar. Though this is not described in any great detail, it appears it would contain a hospital, research laboratories, a library and maybe even living quarters for some Physicians. Each city would also have their own High Council of Physicians to aid in the governance of that caste within the city. Each Physician's Caste, in every different city, is basically autonomous.

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