The Rise and Fall of the Caucasian Race: A Political History of Racial Identity

The term "Caucasian" emerged in 1795 as a modern invention, originally referring to peoples of the Caucasus Mountains region and later to those classified as "Caucasian." Bruce Baum examines the history of this term and the broader category of the "Caucasian race" within the context of evolving racial theory and concepts of racial identity. Tracing intellectual and scientific understandings of "race" from the Middle Ages to the present day, Baum provides a comprehensive historical overview that precedes the actual use of the term "Caucasian." His analysis separates modern science and politics from a long historical record of racial classification, offering insights into how the "Caucasian race" has been constructed, adopted, replaced, and revived throughout history.