List of Human Races

Before we get down to enlisting the different races of humanity, let us first understand the concept of race itself. As far as classification of human beings is concerned, race refers to such classification based upon various parameters such as genetic and biological traits, language, culture, traditions and social practices. The basic parameter for racial classification, however, remains genetic and physiological make-up. There are four basic human races that are considered chiefly as the races of humanity and several sub-races as a result of intermingling and biological interaction of people belonging to different races. Let us check out the list of human races to see what these four pure races are.

List of Human Races of the World

The evolution of different human races is as old as the evolution of humanity as theorized by Charles Darwin. According to recent researches in the field of anthropology regarding the origin of mankind, it has been suggested that the human race may be older than originally thought. The following four races of humanity are the chief distinct classifications of humans based upon genetics and anthropology. However, we can see many sub-races as a result of matrimonial and reproductive interaction between people belonging to different races. The four primary races are as follows:-

Caucasoid
Also known as the Caucasian Race, the Caucasoids are further classified into various sub races such as Aryans (Indo-Europeans), Semitic (Jewish, Hebrew speaking people), Hamitic (Berber-Cushitic-Egyptian native races), Nordic, Mediterranean, Dinaric, Alpine, Arabid, East Baltic, Turanid, Iranid and Armenoid. These sub races are primarily based upon geographic location and language. The Caucasian race and all its sub races are characterized by light skin color ranging from white to dark wheatish, straightish to wavy hair with color ranging from flaxen to brownish to dark ebony, prominent eyes, pronounced and well-shaped nose and sharp features, medium built and average to stocky musculature. The term, Caucasoid, is derived from Mount Caucasus from where, anthropologists believe, the Caucasoid race originated and spread throughout the world. Owing to the very cold conditions of the place of its origin, the Caucasian race has light and sparse skin pigmentation and, as a result, they are not very well suited to living in very hot equatorial climates and are ill-suited to remain exposed to strong sunlight for long.

Negroid
The Negro race is subdivided into sub races such as Aborigines, Melanesians, Negritos, Papuans, Dravidians, etc. However, Thomas Huxley, the prominent Darwinian biologist, believed that Aborigines, Papuans, Negritos and Melanesians should be categorized under the Australoid race. People belonging to the Negroid race are physically characterized by dark skin due to dense pigmentation, coarse black and wooly hair, wide noses and foreheads, broad, often thick lips, large built and broad skeletal structure. The Negro race people are known for their stamina and ability to survive in very adverse environmental conditions, especially extreme heat. The dense pigmentation of their skin equip them to face the intense heat and strong sun of the equatorial belt of the earth, which is where this race is believed to have originated. Even today, the maximum number of Negroid race people can be found in the equatorial regions such as Africa, Southern India, etc. Negroid sub-races also include the following:-

• The Nilotic peoples
• The Bantu race
• The Sudanic race
• The Pygmy peoples
• The Khoisan peoples

Mongoloid
The Mongoloid race include all those people who are classified under the sub races East Asian, North Asian and Native American. Mongoloids are characterized by yellowish or light Wheaties skin, extremely straight and black hair, very less hair growth upon their bodies, small, almond-shaped eyes, slight built and very lean musculature. The facial features are usually small but clear. The regions of the world that are regarded as the homelands of Mongoloid race people are the far Orients, Northeastern India, certain American countries where Native American people can still be found, etc. The Mongoloid race can be classified into the following two broad sub-races:-

• Neo-Mongoloids which include ethic groups like Eskimos, Buryats, Chinese and Chukchis. These groups have physical features that are extremely Mongoloid in appearance and are typically found in Mongoloid populations that have adapted to living in extremely low temperatures and cold climatic conditions
• Paleo-Mongoloids which include ethnic groups such as Polynesians, Filipinos, Burmese, certain Native American peoples, Jōmons, etc. The physical features of these ethnic and genetic groups are less Mongoloid in appearance and such features are usually found in Mongolian populations whose lifestyles are adapted for living in warm to temperate climatic conditions over several generations.

Australoid
As discussed before, the Aborigines, Melanesians, Papuans and Negritos come under the Australoid race. In short, the original native races local to the Australian subcontinent come under this category. Most anthropologists debate the distinctiveness of this race as sub races like Aborigines, Negritos, etc. are, genetically and physiologically, very close to the Negroid race. Hence, many anthropologists and genetic biologists believe that these should be categorized as sub races of the Negroid race. Therefore, we can say that the Australoid race is a classification of humanity which is based upon geographical location and regional culture rather than genetic and biological traits.

That was a brief and broad overview of the various human races that resulted post human evolution from simian ancestors. This list includes the four chief races of humanity from whence branch out the multiple sub races. Sub races can be as a result of inter-racial interactions, geographical isolation or any other natural or social interference to the evolutionary machinery.