UNIT 12 RACIAL CLASSIFICATION REVISION NOTES

 Introduction to Racial Classification

• Definition of Race:

  • Informal taxonomic rank below subspecies.
  • Categorization of human populations based on shared physical, genetic, social, or cultural traits and presumed common ancestry.

• Historical Perspectives:

  • Sanskrit and ancient Chinese literature classified populations based on physical features like skin color.
  • Francois Bernier (1684) attempted early classifications of human populations into races.
  • Immanuel Kant (1775) distinguished race as a major division of humanity with distinctive inherited physical traits.

• Linnaeus' Classification (1758):

  • Established taxonomic categories for human varieties: Homo European, Homo American, Homo Asiatic, Homo African.
  • Attributed both inherited biological traits and cultural characteristics to each group.

• Development of Racial Classifications:

  • European scholars expanded classifications to include Australoid, Caucasoid, Mongoloid, Negroid, Native Americans, and Polynesians.
  • Significant contributors: Blumenbach, Hooton, Risley, Guha proposed detailed racial classification systems.

• Critique of Racial Classifications:

• Ethnocentric assumptions in early classifications overlooked genetic diversity and historical migrations.
• Lack of scientific rigor in defining boundaries and characteristics of racial groups.
• Continual evolution of understanding human diversity challenges static racial classifications.

Contribution of J.F. Blumenbach (1752-1840)

• Background:

  • German physician and anthropologist.
  • Studied human crania extensively to formulate racial classifications.

• Classification System:

  • Divided human species into five races based on skull shape and physical characteristics.
  • His classification system in 1795:
    1. Caucasian or White:
       • Found in Europe (excluding Laplanders and Finns), North Africa, and Western Asia up to the Ganges.
    2. Mongolian or Yellow:
       • Includes Finns, Laplanders (Europe), Eskimos (now Inuits) of America, and inhabitants of Asia (excluding Caucasians).
    3. Malayan or Brown:
       • Inhabitants of the Pacific region.
    4. Ethiopean or Black:
       • Africans (other than Caucasians).
    5. American or Red:
       • Indigenous peoples of America (excluding Eskimos).

• Degenerative Hypothesis:

  • Proposed that human races diverged due to environmental factors like climate, diet, and sun exposure.
  • Caucasian skull type considered ideal, with other types seen as deviations due to environmental degeneration.
  • Example: Negroid black pigmentation attributed to tropical sun exposure, Eskimo tawny color due to cold climates.
  • Believed in reversed degeneration, suggesting all forms could revert to Caucasian type based on environmental influences.

• Scientific Racism and Legacy:

• Despite his degenerative hypothesis, Blumenbach did not advocate racial superiority.
• His classification system laid the foundation for scientific racial categorization, influencing later anthropological studies.
• Criticized for reinforcing racial stereotypes and supporting scientific racism, albeit unintentionally.

Contribution of E.A. Hooton (1887-1954)

• Background:

  • Jewish-American physical anthropologist.
  • Known for his work on racial classifications and author of 'Up from the Ape'.

• Definition of Race:

  • Defined race in 1946 as “a great division of mankind, the members of which, though individually varying, are characterized as a group by certain combination of morphological and metrical features, principally, nonadaptive, which have been derived from their common descent.”

• Classification System (1947):

  • Caucasoid:
    1. Mediterranean:
       • Classical Mediterranean
       • Atlanto Mediterranean
       • Indo-Afghan
    2. Nordic
    3. Alpine
    4. East Baltic
    5. Dinaric
    6. Armenoid
    7. Keltic
    8. Lapp
    9. Indo-Dravidian
    10. Polynesian
    11. Ainu
  • Archaic Caucasoid or Australoid (subdivision of Caucasoid):
    1. Australian Aborigines
    2. Pre-Dravidian or Veddoid
  • Mongoloid:
    1. Classical Mongoloid
    2. Archaic or Eskimoid
    3. Indo-Malayan Mongoloid:
       • Malay type
       • Indonesian type or Nesiot
    4. Amerindian or American Indian:
       • Paleo-Armenoid
       • Northern Amerind
       • Neo-Amerind
       • Tehuclche
       • North-west coast Amerind
  • Negroid:
    1. African Negro:
       • True Negro
       • Nilotic Negro
       • Bantu
       • Bushman-Hottentot
       • Negrillo (African Pygmy)
    2. Oceanic Negro:
       • Negrito
       • Papuans and Melanesians
    3. American Negro

• Modification of Classification:

  • Originally recognized three primary races (Caucasoid, Mongoloid, Negroid) in 1931, later expanded to include composite sub-races.

• Legacy and Criticism:

• Hooton’s classification system influenced anthropological studies of race in the mid-20th century.
• Criticized for perpetuating racial stereotypes and not accounting for genetic diversity and cultural complexities.
• Despite its flaws, provided a framework for understanding human diversity during his time.

Caucasoid Racial Sub-types

• General Characteristics of Caucasoid Race:
  • Skin color: White, olive, shades of brown, sometimes dark brown.
  • Hair: Flat wavy to curly, lighter in color, medium to fine texture.
  • Head shape: Dolichocephalic to brachycephalic.
  • Nose: Leptorrhine to mesorrhine (never platyrrhine), high nasal bridge.
  • Facial features: High forehead, no facial prognathism, thin lips, prominent chin.
  • Stature: Typically tall.

Caucasoid Racial Sub-types:

1. Mediterranean:

   • Classic Mediterranean:

     • Light brown skin, black curly hair.
     • Dolichocephalic to mesocephalic head.
     • Leptorrhine nose, long oval face, pointed chin.
     • Dark eyes, medium stature.

   • Atlanto-Mediterranean:

     • Dark skin, dark wavy or curly hair.
     • Dolichocephalic to mesocephalic head.
     • Straight nose, deep jaws, prominent cheekbones.
     • Medium to dark brown eyes, tall stature.

   • Indo-Afghan:

     • Light brown skin, black wavy hair.
     • Dolichocephalic to mesocephalic head.
     • Leptorrhine nose, long narrow face.
     • Tall to medium stature.

2. Nordic:

   • Pinkish to reddish-white skin.
   • Wavy hair, mesocephalic head.
   • Straight and leptorrhine nose.
   • Long narrow face, prominent chin.
   • Blue or grey eyes, tall stature.

3. Alpine:

   • Olive or burnet white skin.
   • Wavy hair, brachycephalic head.
   • Leptorrhine to mesorrhine nose.
   • Round or oval face with strong eyebrow ridges.
   • Medium to short stature.

4. East Baltic:

   • White to creamy white skin.
   • Straight hair, light blue or grey eyes.
   • Brachycephalic head, squarish face.
   • Mesorrhine with convex nasal profile.
   • Prominent cheek, medium to thin lips.
   • Short to medium stature.

5. Dinaric:

   • Lighter burnet to olive skin.
   • Medium hair texture, abundant body/facial hair.
   • Brachycephalic head, leptorrhine nose with fleshy tip.
   • Brownish eye color, thick lips.
   • Tall stature, long narrow face, projecting chin.

6. Armenoid:

   • Tawny white or olive skin.
   • Wavy to curly dark brown to black hair.
   • Brachycephalic head, leptorrhine nose with convex profile.
   • Narrow elongated face, well-developed cheekbones.
   • Medium to dark brown eyes, thick eyebrows.
   • Medium to tall stature.

7. Keltic:

   • Pale white skin.
   • Wavy to curly hair, mesocephalic head.
   • Blue or grey eyes.
   • Long narrow face, deep chin.
   • Leptorrhine nose with high nasal bridge.
   • Tall stature.

8. Lapp:

   • Greyish yellow to yellowish brown skin.
   • Dark straight hair, sparse body/facial hair.
   • Brachycephalic head, mesorrhine nose with concave profile.
   • Moderately broad face, short stature.
   • Prominent cheekbones, faint eye brow ridges.
   • Epicanthic fold occasionally present.

9. Indo-Dravidian:

   • Light brown to dark brown skin.
   • Plentiful black wavy hair.
   • Dark brown eyes, dolichocephalic head.
   • Narrow to medium face, little prognathism.
   • Mesorrhine with straight profile.
   • High nasal bridge, medium stature.

10. Polynesian:

    • Light brown to yellow-brown skin.
    • Wavy to straight hair, dark brown to black.
    • Sparse body/facial hair, medium brown to black eyes.
    • Thick lips, brachycephalic head.
    • Long broad face, prominent cheekbones.
    • Prominent nose, high nasal bridge, well-developed chin.
    • Tall stature.

11. Ainu:

• Light brown to brownish-white skin.
• Dark brown to black wavy hair.
• Mesocephalic head, mesorrhine to platyrrhine nose.
• Short face, well-developed jaw and chin.
• Medium brown to dark brown eyes, thin lips.
• Medium to short stature.

Summary:

• Caucasoid race encompasses diverse physical features including skin color, hair type, head shape, nose form, and stature.
• Sub-types like Mediterranean, Nordic, Alpine, etc., exhibit distinct characteristics within the Caucasoid racial category.
• Each sub-type is characterized by specific combinations of physical traits adapted to different geographic and environmental conditions.

Australoid or Archaic Caucasoid

Subdivisions of Australoid within Caucasoid:

1. Australian Aborigines:

   • Skin color: Medium brown to dark chocolate brown.
   • Hair: Wavy to curly, abundant on body and face.
   • Head shape: Dolichocephalic.
   • Facial features: Large eyebrow ridges, receding chin.
   • Face: Short with medium to pronounced prognathism.
   • Forehead: Receding with prominent glabella.
   • Nose: Very broad (platyrrhine), depressed root.
   • Eyes: Medium to dark brown.
   • Lips: Medium thick.
   • Stature: Variable.

2. Pre-Dravidian:

• Skin color: Dark brown to black.
• Hair: Black, wavy to curly.
• Head shape: Dolichocephalic.
• Nose: Platyrrhine with depressed nasal root.
• Face: Short and narrow with moderate prognathism.
• Facial features: Prominent eyebrow ridges, receding chin.
• Eyes: Dark brown.
• Lips: Thick.
• Stature: Short.

Summary:

• Australoid or Archaic Caucasoid is a subdivision of the Caucasoid race.
• Australian Aborigines exhibit medium to dark skin, wavy to curly hair, and distinct facial features such as broad nose and prominent brow ridges.
• Pre-Dravidian people have dark skin, black wavy to curly hair, and specific facial characteristics including a flat nose with a depressed root and thick lips.
• These subtypes highlight diversity within the Australoid category, characterized by adaptations to specific environmental and geographic conditions.

Mongoloid

Subdivisions of Mongoloid:

1. Classical Mongoloid:

   • Skin color: Yellow or yellowish brown.
   • Hair: Straight coarse black.
   • Body and facial hair: Sparse.
   • Head shape: Brachycephalic.
   • Nose: Low nasal root, medium, concave or straight nasal profile.
   • Face: Broad with square jaws, prominent cheek bones.
   • Eyes: Obliquely set with narrow silt-like opening, epicanthic fold.
   • Stature: Variable.

2. The Archaic or Eskimoid:

   • Skin color: Dark yellow to brownish.
   • Hair: Straight and black, scanty body and facial hair.
   • Eyes: Black with occasional complete epicanthic fold.
   • Head shape: Brachycephalic to monocephalic.
   • Nose: Narrow and prominent.
   • Face: Large and broad with prominent cheek bones.
   • Stature: Short but variable.

3. Indonesian-Malay Mongoloid:

   • Includes elements of Caucasoid and Negroid.
   • Divided into: a) Malay type:
     • Skin color: Light to dark yellow brown.
     • Hair: Straight black.
     • Head shape: Brachycephalic.
     • Nose: Mesorrhine to platyrrhine.
     • Eyes: Medium brown to dark brown, internal epicanthic fold.
     • Face: Short and broad with prominent cheek bones.
     • Stature: Short. b) Indonesian type or Nesiot:
     • Skin color: Light reddish brown to medium brown.
     • Hair: Black wavy.
     • Head shape: Monocephalic.
     • Nose: Mesorrhine.
     • Face: Narrow, long, oval.
     • Eyes: Black, less frequent internal epicanthic fold.
     • Lips: Thick.
     • Stature: Short.

4. The American Indian or Amerindian:

   • Skin color: Yellow brown to red brown.
   • Hair: Straight, coarse black, sparse body and facial hair.
   • Head shape: Dolico-mesocephalic or brachycephalic.
   • Nose: Long, mesorrhine.
   • Face: Broad with prominent cheek bones.
   • Eyes: Dark brown to black, external epicanthic fold.
   • Other features: High convex nasal bridge, sloping forehead, prominent brow ridges, shovel shaped incisors.
   • Stature: Variable.

Subcategories of Amerindians:

• Paleo-Armenoid or Dolico-Mesocephal:
  • Dolicocephalic head, long narrow face, reddish brown to yellowish brown skin, black wavy hair.
• Northern Amerind:
  • Yellowish brown skin, black straight hair, mesorrhine nose, oval face, tall stature.
• Brachycephal or Neo-Amerind:
  • Yellowish brown skin, black straight hair, brachycephalic head, broad short face, external epicanthic fold, variable stature.
• Thehucleche:
  • Brownish skin, black straight hair, brachycephalic head, square broad face, external epicanthic fold, tall stature.
• North-west coast Amerind:
• Medium stature, lighter skin and hair color.

Summary:

• Mongoloid race originated in Central Asia and dispersed widely.
• Classical Mongoloid features include yellowish skin, straight black hair, and distinctive facial characteristics.
• The Archaic or Eskimoid subtypes exhibit variations in skin color, head shape, and facial features.
• Indonesian-Malay Mongoloid shows mixed traits and is subdivided based on geographic distribution and physical features.
• The American Indian or Amerindian encompasses diverse physical traits across subgroups with adaptations to various environments.

Negroid

Subdivisions of Negroid:

1. African Negro:

   • True Negro:

     • Skin color: Dark brown to black.
     • Hair: Black woolly.
     • Head shape: Dolichocephalic.
     • Nose: Platyrrhine.
     • Face: Prognathous, thick and everted lips.
     • Eyes: Dark brown to black.
     • Stature: Tall.

   • Nilotic Negro or Nilotes:

     • Skin color: Very dark to bluish black.
     • Hair: Black woolly.
     • Head shape: Dolichocephalic.
     • Nose: Platyrrhine, low nasal bridge.
     • Face: Prognathous, well-developed chin.
     • Eyes: Dark brown.
     • Lips: Thick and everted.
     • Stature: Tall.

   • Bantu:

     • Skin color: Dark chocolate.
     • Hair: Black woolly or frizzy.
     • Head shape: Dolichocephalic.
     • Nose: Narrow and prominent.
     • Face: Marked prognathism.
     • Eyes: Dark brown.
     • Stature: Medium to above average.

   • Bushman-Hottentot:

     • Skin color: Light to brownish yellow.
     • Hair: Black and sparse.
     • Head shape: Dolichocephalic.
     • Nose: Platyrrhine, broad and flat nasal root.
     • Face: Short and square, prominent cheek bones.
     • Eyes: Dark brown to black, slanting.
     • Lips: Thick.
     • Stature: Medium.

   • Negrillo (African Pygmy):

     • Skin color: Yellowish light brown to reddish brown.
     • Hair: Short woolly.
     • Head shape: Monocephalic.
     • Nose: Broad and flat.
     • Face: Prognathous, narrow chin.
     • Eyes: Dark brown.
     • Lips: Full.
     • Stature: Short.

2. Oceanic Negro:

   • Negrito:
     • Skin color: Light brown to dark chocolate brown.
     • Head shape: Dolichocephalic to mesocephalic.
     • Nose: Short and straight.
     • Face: Round.
     • Stature: Short.
   • Papuans and Melanesians:
     • Skin color: Dark chocolate brown.
     • Hair: Black frizzly.
     • Head shape: Dolichocephalic.
     • Nose: Platyrrhine.
     • Face: Prominent eyebrow ridges.
     • Eyes: Dark brown to black.
     • Stature: Short to medium.

3. The American Negros:

   • Skin color: Olive to dark brown.
   • Hair: Woolly, dark brown.
   • Head shape: Dolichocephalic.
   • Eyes: Light brown to dark brown.
   • Face: Longer with little prognathism.
   • Nose: Intermediate between Forest Negro and Caucasoid.
   • Lips: Medium or thick.
   • Stature: Variable but usually tall.

Summary:

• Negroid race primarily found in Sub-Saharan Africa and neighboring regions.
• African Negro includes True Negro, Nilotic Negro, Bantu, Bushman-Hottentot, and Negrillo with distinct physical traits.
• Oceanic Negro encompasses Negrito (Asiatic and Oceanic Pygmy) and Papuans/Melanesians.
• The American Negros exhibit features intermediate between Forest Negro and Caucasoid, with variable stature and distinct facial characteristics.

Indian Racial Classifications by H. H. Risley

Contributions of Sir H. H. Risley (1915):

• Attempted to classify Indian population based on anthropometric measurements.
• Identified three principal racial types in India: Dravidian, Indo-Aryan, and Mongoloid.
• Recognized other mixed racial types resulting from varying degrees of these three.

Seven 'Physical Types' Identified:

1. Dravidian Type:

   • Physical Features:
     • Stature: Short to below medium.
     • Complexion: Dark, approaching black.
     • Hair: Dark, plentiful, occasionally curly.
     • Eyes: Dark.
     • Head: Long, broad nose, sometimes depressed at root.
   • Distribution:
     • Southern India, Western Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Central India, Chotanagpur.
   • Examples:
     • Paniyans (Malabar), Santals (Chottanagpur).

2. Indo-Aryan Type:

   • Physical Features:
     • Stature: Tall.
     • Complexion: Fair.
     • Hair: Dark, plentiful on face and body.
     • Nose: Narrow, long (leptorrhine).
     • Head: Predominantly dolichocephalic.
   • Distribution:
     • Punjab, Rajasthan, Kashmir.
   • Examples:
     • Kashmiri Brahmins, Rajputs, Jats, Khatris.

3. Mongoloid Type:

   • Physical Features:
     • Stature: Short to below medium.
     • Complexion: Dark with yellowish tinge.
     • Hair: Scanty on face and body.
     • Nose: Broad, range from fine to broad.
     • Face: Flat, eyes oblique with epicanthic fold.
   • Distribution:
     • Himalayan region, Northeast Frontier, Nepal, Burma.
   • Examples:
     • Kanets (Lahul, Kulu Valleys), Lepchas (Darjeeling, Sikkim), Bodo (Assam).

4. Aryo-Dravidian Type:

   • Physical Features:
     • Complexion: Light brown to black.
     • Nose: Medium, broad.
     • Stature: Below average.
   • Distribution:
     • Uttar Pradesh, parts of Rajasthan, Bihar.
   • Examples:
     • People of said areas.

5. Mongolo-Dravidian Type:

   • Physical Features:
     • Complexion: Dark.
     • Hair: Plentiful on face.
     • Nose: Medium, tendency towards flatness.
     • Stature: Medium to short.
   • Distribution:
     • Bengal, Orissa.
   • Examples:
     • Bengali Brahmins, Bengali Kayasthas.

6. Scytho-Dravidian Type:

   • Physical Features:
     • Complexion: Fair.
     • Nose: Moderately fine.
     • Stature: Medium to low.
   • Distribution:
     • Western India (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra-Gujarat border, Coorg).
   • Examples:
     • Maratha Brahmins, Kunbis, Coorgs.

7. Turko-Iranian Type:

• Physical Features:
  • Complexion: Fair.
  • Nose: Fine to medium.
  • Stature: Tall.
  • Eyes: Dark, grey.
• Distribution:
  • Afghanistan, Baluchistan, Northwest Frontier Provinces (now Pakistan).
• Examples:
• Balochis, Afghans, Brahuis.

Contribution of B. S. Guha to Indian Racial Classification

Biraja Shankar Guha (1894-1961), an Indian Physical Anthropologist, classified the Indian population into several racial types based on anthropometric measurements conducted between 1930 and 1933. His classification includes six major racial types with further subdivisions:

1. Negrito:

   • Physical Features:
     • Dark skin color, short stature.
     • Frizzly hair with long or short spirals.
     • Small to medium head, bulbous forehead.
     • Flat and broad nose, thick and everted lips.
   • Examples:
     • Kadars, Irulas, Puniyans (South India), tribes of Rajmahal Hills.

2. Proto-Australoid:

   • Physical Features:
     • Dolichocephalic head.
     • Broad and flat nose (platyrrhine) with depressed root.
     • Short stature, dark brown to nearly black skin.
     • Wavy or curly hair, prominent supraorbital ridges.
   • Examples:
     • Oraons, Santals, Mundas (Chottanagpur), Chenchus, Kurumbas, Yeruvas (Southern India), Bhils, Kols (Central and Western India).

3. Mongoloid:

   • Physical Features:
     • Scanty facial and body hair.
     • Obliquely set eyes with epicanthic fold.
     • Flat face with prominent cheekbones, straight hair.
   • Subdivisions:
     • Palaeo-Mongoloid:
       • Long-headed: Long head, medium stature, medium nose, dark to light brown skin.
       • Broad-headed: Broad head, round face, dark skin, medium nose.
     • Tibeto-Mongoloid:
       • Broad and massive head, tall stature, long flat face, oblique eyes.
   • Examples:
     • Sema Nagas (Assam), Limbus (Nepal), Tibetans (Bhutan, Sikkim).

4. Mediterranean:

   • Physical Features:
     • Long head with bulbous forehead, high vault.
     • Medium stature, small and broad nose, narrow face.
     • Scanty hair on face and body, dark skin color.
   • Subdivisions:
     • Palaeo-Mediterranean:
       • Dravidian-speaking people (South India).
     • Mediterranean:
       • Arched forehead, well-developed chin, tall stature.
     • Oriental:
       • Resembles Mediterranean with a long and convex nose.
   • Examples:
     • Tamil Brahmins (Madura), Nairs (Cochin), Telugu Brahmins (South India), Brahmins (Allahabad), Bengali Brahmins.

5. Western Brachycephals:

   • Physical Features:
     • Alpinoid:
       • Medium stature, broad head, round face.
     • Dinaric:
       • Broad head, high vault, prominent nose, dark complexion.
     • Armenoid:
       • Features similar to Dinarics, prominent nose.
   • Examples:
     • Bania (Gujarat), Kathi (Kathiawar), Kayasthas (Bengal), Brahmins (Bengal, Mysore), Parsis (Bombay).

6. Nordics:

   • Physical Features:
     • Long head, protruding occiput, arched forehead.
     • Straight nose with high bridge, tall stature, robust build.
     • Blue or grey eyes, fair or reddish-white skin.
   • Examples:
     • Kho (Chitral), Red Kaffirs, Khatash.

Summary:

• B. S. Guha classified Indian population based on anthropometric studies into Negrito, Proto-Australoid, Mongoloid, Mediterranean, Western Brachycephals, and Nordics.
• Each type characterized by unique physical features reflecting historical migrations and geographical distribution across India.