Answer:
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the concept of race began to take shape as a way of categorizing and differentiating groups of people based on physical and cultural characteristics. This idea was heavily influenced by European colonialism and the encounter with non-European peoples in the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
One influential thinker in the development of the idea of race was the Swedish scientist Carolus Linnaeus, who in the mid-18th century classified humans into four racial categories based on physical characteristics such as skin color, facial features, and hair texture. This approach was later expanded by other scholars who added more categories and refined the criteria used to distinguish between them.
The idea of race was also used to justify imperial conquest and expansion by European powers. European colonizers viewed non-European peoples as inferior and primitive, and argued that it was their duty to bring civilization and progress to these “uncivilized” societies. The concept of the “white man’s burden” was popularized in the late 19th century as a justification for European imperialism, and was based on the assumption that white people had a moral and intellectual superiority that made them responsible for the welfare of other peoples.
However, the experience of subaltern peoples often negated these justifications. Colonialism and imperialism led to exploitation, violence, and the suppression of local cultures and traditions. Many colonized peoples resisted European domination and fought for independence and self-determination. The Haitian Revolution, for example, challenged the idea of racial hierarchy by demonstrating that enslaved Africans could overthrow their white masters and establish an independent state.
Primary sources such as travel accounts, scientific treatises, and political speeches provide valuable insights into the development of the idea of race and its use to justify imperialism. For example, Edward Long’s History of Jamaica, published in 1774, classified Jamaican society into racial categories and argued that Africans were inferior to Europeans. The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, which divided Africa among European powers, was based on the assumption that African societies were primitive and needed European guidance and control.
In conclusion, the idea of race developed in the 18th and 19th centuries as a way of categorizing and differentiating groups of people based on physical and cultural characteristics. This concept was used to justify European imperialism and conquest, but was often challenged and negated by the experiences of subaltern peoples who resisted European domination and fought for their own independence and self-determination.