The influence of religion and
social structure on early Indian culture cannot be overemphasized. In the times
of the Maurya and Gupta empires, the Indian culture was profoundly influenced
by Hinduism, a religion that reinforced a strict social hierarchy called “caste
system”. This made it virtually impossible for anyone to move outside of his or
her social station. The emperors in fact, used Hinduism as a unifying religion
and focused on Hinduism as a means for personal salvation.
