Final answer:
The early Hindu social divisions influenced the formation of the Indian caste system by dividing the society into distinct social classes based on occupation and birth. This caste system was maintained through religious sanctions and the belief in karma and reincarnation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The early Hindu social divisions influenced the formation of the Indian caste system by dividing the society into distinct social classes based on occupation and birth. These social divisions, known as varnas, consisted of the brahmins (priests), kshatriyas (warriors), vaishyas (merchants and farmers), and shudras (servile people). Over time, these varnas evolved into a hierarchical caste system with thousands of sublevels, and social mobility became extremely limited.
The caste system was maintained through religious sanctions and the belief in karma and reincarnation. According to Hindu religious beliefs, a person's caste was determined by their actions in past lives, and their position in society was seen as a result of their karma. This rigid social structure was later rejected by religions such as Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.