What were varnas?

The Varnas, unfortunately, are not a thing from the past: they still are very present. Varna is the name for the four Indian castes: Brahmins (on top of the hierarchy); kshatriyas (after the Brahmins); vaishyas (after that) and shudras: at the very bottom.

the modern caste system is a more detailed division into even smaller groups, but the basic distinction into the four varnas is still influencing the Indian society.