Class and caste are both social stratifications used to divide people into different groups within a society.
Class System
Class systems exist in practically all societies. In a class system, the dominant drivers behind the grouping of individuals are power and wealth. Classes are determined by the distribution of resources, not established by legal or religious reasons. Those within a certain class will live similar types of lives, sharing the same broad experiences, chances, and perspectives. While people are born into a specific class, mobility among classes is possibly (either upward or downward), if not always easy.
Caste System
The caste system exists predominantly in South Asia. Unlike class systems, the caste system is effectively a closed system with little to no chances for mobility. Caste is determined by religious and legal norms and is a mostly permanent status inherited at birth. Caste also has historically had real implications on the functioning of a society - caste is used to separate people by their function in society (merchant, king, warrior, servant, etc).
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