“ALMOST A SEPARATE RACE”: RACIAL THOUGHT AND THE IDEA OF EUROPE IN BRITISH ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND HISTORIES, 1771–1830
Paul Stock
This article explores the association between racial thought and idea of Europe in late eighteenth- early nineteenth-century Britain. It begins by noting complexities surrounding word “race” this period, before considering whether—and on what grounds—contemporary race thinkers identify a “European race” or “races”. reveals important ambiguities correlations anatomical, genealogical cultural understandings human difference. The essay then discusses how some these ideas find expression British encyclopedias, histories geographical books. In way, it shows are disseminated, not just dedicated volumes anatomy biological classification, but also general works which purport to summarize transmit contemporary received knowledge. draws upon entries “Europe” every encyclopedia completed 1771 1830, as well named source texts for those articles, tracing was used connotations carried. Some imply that “European” is either separate entirely, subcategory single race. Others, however, reject distinctive European people competing groups Europe. These reveal increasing interest delineation identities, an emerges partly from long-standing eighteenth-century debates about categorization comprehension addition, they show diffusion (contending) non-specialist media, foreshadowing growing prominence later nineteenth century.
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