Q: My family is originally from the North Caucasus in Russia, which is sometimes considered to be Eurasia, sometimes considered to be Europe. People who come from there are known as "Caucasians". Why has the word "Caucasian" come to describe everyone from Europe and even the Middle East, North Africa & India?
A: "Caucasian" is a term that emerged around 1800 by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach for the "white" race of mankind. He derived it from the region of the Caucasus. Now the term is used to denote the populations Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Central and South Asia. The concept's existence is based on the now obsolete typological method of racial classification.
Related items
- Why is European civilization called "Western?"?
- If neanderthals were still around would you date one?
- Hunters-gatherers of early Homo Sapiens ?
- What can a archeologist or anthropologist find under a earthquake?
- What is the difference between an archaeologist and an anthropologist? and how are they alike?