UNIT II

Human Geography
B.A./B.Sc. II Semester (Section A)

RACE
Concept of Race
A Race may be defined as division of mankind into classes of individuals possessing
common physical characteristics, traits, appearance that are transmissible by descents &
sufficient to characterize it as a distinct human type. Race is a biological grouping within human
species distinguished or classified according to genetically transmitted differences.
Anthropologists define race as a principal division of mankind, marked by physical
characteristics that breed.

According to Vidal de la Blache:

“A race is great divisions of mankind, the members of which though individually vary, are
characterized as a group by certain body characteristics as a group by certain body characteristics
which are transmitted by nature & retained from one generation to another”.

Race is a biological concept. The term race should not be used in connection with those grouping
of mankind such as nation, religion, community & language which depends on feelings, ideas or
habits of people and can be changes by the conscious wishes of the individual.

There is no pure race because of migration and consequent intermixing. Race cannot be changed
and there is no pure race as the ecumene is spreading & non Ecumene contracting.

Classification of Human Races

The very first attempt to identify the physical features of some human populations Racial
Classification is found in ancient Sanskrit literature. In 200 B.C., the Chinese distinguished
mankind into five groups on the basis of skin colour and Egyptians into four racial types.

Bernier’s attempt to classify humans may be considered as the first attempt to classify human
race in to four groups. In 1921 Bradley made another attempt to systematize the racial types
using dichotomous method and distinguished into three racial types, i.e., White (Bearded and
Beardless); Negroes (Straight haired and Woolly Haired), Intermediates (Mulattoes).

In 1806 Bluemenbach, a German scientist studied the craniological material and classified
mankind into five types: 1) Caucasian, 2) Mongolian, 3) Ethiopian, 4) American, 5) Malayan

In 1848 Pickering identified eleven human races, viz., Mongolian, MalayPolynesian, Australian,
Papuan, Negrito, Hindu, Nubian, Hottentot, Abyssinian and White. In 1870 Huxley proposed a
classification of mankind including five principle races divided into fourteen secondary races.
Later on Haeckel Muller (1879), Topinard (1885) and Quatrefages (1889) further slightly
modified Huxley’s classification.
Kroebers Classification

A.L.Kroeber has classified races of mankind into 4 major groups: (a) Caucasoids, (b)
Mongoloids, (d) Negroids and (d) Doubtful classification

His first three racial groups are broadly on the lines of the other racial classifications. His fourth
group comprises of four sub-groups

(i) Australoid, (ii) Veddoid (indo-Austral), (iii) Polynesian and (iv) Ainu of Japan who are
admixture of Caucasoids, Mongoloids and Negroids.

Classification Criteria

There is no single way of classifying mankind. In the past, physical characteristics delineate three to five
races. Later on blood types and even hereditary diseases were taken into account for classification which
includes 8 races. Caucasoid, Negroid, Mongoloid, Indie, Australoid, Polynesian, Melanesian.
Micronesian and American Indian. The physical characteristics of the three major racial groups, i.e.
Caucasoid, Negroids and Mongoloids was advocated by “Huddon and Krogman”. The fourth minor group
is Australoids (Australions). Racial hatred and prejudice spring from an irritational dislike of whatever is
different. The worst results are colour bars and oppressions of certain groups. In South Africa the colour
bar was legally based on the “Apartheid” or separate movement.

2 kinds of criteria are used from racial classification:

1. The superficial or external characteristics obtained by direct observation

2. The structural or internal characteristics & measurements.

Ancient literatures provided us with some descriptions of physical features of human groups. In
course of time, more and more characteristics were added; specific methods were devised for the
classification of the races. As a consequence, a large number of races and sub-races have been
distinguished. But it is really troublesome to divide human populations in clear-cut races as the
differentiations of characters between the races are quite arbitrary.

In general, a race is believed to possess a distinctive combination of physical traits which it

acquires as a result of inheritance. In 1931, American anthropologist E.A. Hooton recognized
three primary races—Caucasoid, Negroid and Mongoloid along with several composite
secondary sub- races. But he himself felt the need of modifying this classification in 1947.
However, most of the scientists have now agreed to divide the mankind into three principal racial
types on the basis of relative commonness of physical characteristics.

The principal races, namely Caucasoid, Mongoloid and Negroid have again been subdivided into
a number of sub-races. The Caucasoid features are mainly available among the Europeans and
their descendants. Mongoloid features are chiefly found in the peoples of Asia and Indonesia.
The Indians of North and South America also exhibit some Mongoloid characteristics. But the
Negroid features are restricted among the populations of Africa and Melanesia. A few people in
America are also found to exhibit some Negroid physical features because they are the
descendants of African people who were once taken to America as slaves.

Some anthropologists like to introduce Australoid as a separate major racial group because of
their peculiarity in physical characters. But, in fact, like the American Indians and South African
Bushmen, the Australoids form a minor group and in early times these people were widely
distributed in the world.

Bases of Racial Classification: Physical Traits

Superficial or external characteristics

I. Skin Colour:

According to Griffith Taylor skin colour is the most obvious but least satisfactory of the physical
characterictics to be used as a criterion. On the basis of skin colour, races are classified as white
(Caucasians), Yellow (Mongoloids), & black (Negro). These are over generalizations.

Ii. Hair Texture & Colour:

The character of hair has been used as an important criterion for classification of human races. It varies
from race to race and is usually classified as the following y Haddon:

a) Straight hair (Leiotrichi) – Mongoloids, Polynesians and Amerinds

b) Wavy hair (Cymotrichi) – Caucasoids, Pre-Dravidians, & Australoids
c) Wooly hair (Ulotrichi) – Negritoes and Negroids

Hair colour varies through black, dark brown, reddish brown, light brown, blond, golden & red.

Iii. Colour And Shape Of Eyes:

Eye –orbital index is the ratio of the breadth and length of the eye. It is 80 for the Negroid, 85-87 for the
Australoid and 89-95 for the mongoloid. But more significant is the shape of the eye and the Ephicanthic
fold, e.g., in the Mongoloids the upper folds of eye droops over to give the impression of a shit like
opening.

IV. Form of Face and Jaw:

These are the conspicuous features and are the oldest method of distinction.
PROGNATHISM (projecting lower jaw) can be easily observed. Caucasoid have a more prominent chin
while Mongoloids have a broader, flatter, outward sloping jaw. The Negroids have an outward sloping
jaw.

V. Stature:

Stature (body height) is the most discernible trait of the human body. The average stature of the world
population is 165 cm whereas no human group is less than 150 cm. in stature. The Bushman, the Pygmies
and the other Negrito people are human dwarfs (148-158 cm.) the medium stature (159-168 cm.) is
preponderant, but some groups like the Nordic have high stature (169+). Topinard’s classification is very
helpful in classifying races on the basis of stature

Tall 170 cm and above

Above Average 165-170 cm
Below Average 160-165 cm
Small Stature Under 160 cm

Structural Characteristics:

I. The Cephalic Index:

The shape of the head is one of the first parameters used scientifically for the division of mankind into
races. It is relatively easy to measure and has a high degree of accuracy. The shape of the head expressed
as a ratio between maximum width & length of the head.

CEPHALIC INDEX= (width of head/ length of head) * 100

The result is found in form of 3 categories:

a) Long headed (DOLICHOCEPHALIC) below 78.5

b) Medium headed (MESOCEPHALIC) 78.5- 82-5
c) Broad headed (BRACHYCEPHALIC) more than 82.5

II. Nasal Form

The width and height of nose is also of great importance in physical measurements of races.

An index of the ratio of (nose width at the nostril/nose length)* 100

a) Less than 75% - Leptorrhine

b) 75-85% - Mesorrhine
c) 85+% - Platyrrhine

III. Blood Group:

There are racial differences in blood type & composition. Of the Physiological traits that are
employed in the classification of races, blood type is one of the most important:

There are 4 blood groups: O, A, AB, B

IV. Cranial Capacity:

The cranial capacity of the skull is also a criterion for racial classification. But it can be measure for the
dead only. It is estimated that modern man has the average cranial capacity of 1450cc. the cranial capacity
increases with the body development. It has no correlation with the racial intelligence.

Characteristic of Major Races:

Caucosoid Mongoloid Negroid

Skin colour Pale reddish white to Saffron to Yellow Brown to black brown
 olive green. Brown, reddish brown. yellow brown.
Stature Medium to Tall. Medium tall to Medium Tall to very Short.
Short.
Head Form Long-broad and Short Medium height, Predominantly long,
Medium, high-very predominantly broad. Low height.
high.
Hair color Light blonde to dark Brown to brown black, Brown black light curl
brown, straight to wavy. Straight. and wooly.
Body Build Latear to lateral slender Tend to be lateral, some Tend to be linear and
to refuged. linearity evident. muscular.
Nose Usually high, narrow to Low to medium form, Low, medium to very
medium board. medium broad. broad.
Blood Group More A than B. High in B. High is Rhe.
World: Distribution of Races