Citation

Detweiler FG. Am. J. Sociol. 1932; 37(5): 738-747.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1932, University of Chicago Press)

DOI

10.1086/215855

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The origins in history of the race antagonisms existing in the modern world are shown to date from the period of the discoveries. Ancient civilizations such as Greece and Rome had very little social discrimination based on color or race. There was considerable sense of unity in the Roman and medieval world. Contacts with red and black men that followed adventure into the Western Hemisphere and the lands of Africa and India took on certain hostile aspects. The sciences of the eighteenth century classified plants and animals, and infant anthropology made distinctions which were instantly supported by the new philosophy. These distinctions were eagerly employed by those who had any interest in promoting national differences, differences between slave and master, and other lines of cleavage accepted by economic groups. Lately the impact of Western nations on the Far East has stirred racial feeling.