Monogenism and Polygenism

In this episode we go back into the 19th century to talk about the dispute between scientists who thought that all humans came from the same origin (monogenists) and those who were convinced that each race had a separate origin (polygenists).  The latter group appear to still have an influence on racial attitudes in the U.S. pushing notions of difference rather than similarity between the races.  We see this today especially in ideas about race and athleticism.  We focus on Samuel George Morton, Josiah Clark Nott, George Gliddon, and Louis Agassiz.
Here are some links that expand on this episode:

1. Cambridge Whipple Library — Morton’s Crania Americana: https://youtu.be/mMVzPCOut1w
2. Types of Mankind (1854): https://archive.org/details/typesmankindore01pattgoog
3. Commentary on Types of Mankind from an Egyptology perspective: http://chnm.gmu.edu/egyptomania/scholarship.php?function=detail&articleid=37 
4. Erik’s chapter on Nott: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057%2F978-1-349-95139-0_2 
5. Louis Agassiz’s travels in Brazil 1850s: http://mirrorofrace.org/machado/
   
   

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