Answer:
Social hierarchy (social differences)
China: 3 groups of landowners/educated bureaucrats, Labororers/artisans/peasants, mean performers/unskilled labor . Only way to advance was to take the civil service exam.
India: 5 castes: Brahmins, kshatriyas, vaisyas, sudras, untouchables. No mobility. Born into it and couldn't marry out of it.
I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for...
