I don't believe the question was answered. The caste system is very close to the Pope-King-Merchant-System of the medieval Europe. The Brahmins are equivalent to the Pope and the church, the King and his soldiers are like the kshatrias, the Merchants are like the vysias, and the Serfs are like the shudras. This system was set up by the Pope in Europe and the Brahmins in India. They wanted to abuse the power of religion for their benefits and therefore made social and economic standings a measure of a person's worth (the caste system). The Brahmins needed to Kshatrias to protect them and to control power so they were put in the category below themselves. The vysias were the ones who provided them with tribute to bring good luck, so they were next in line. And since the shudras were the hard working but poor people who couldn't really provide any services or goods, except to be manipulated, they were put in the last class. The previous reply is correct in saying that these policies are completely wrong
and were rebuked by the Gurus. But, ignorance to any topic doesn't increase intelligence. (P.S. : The European system was set up for the same intent by the church as the Brahmins).