Researches into the Physical History of Man
Prichard’s Researches into the Physical History of Man has been called the most important pre-Darwinian anthropological work in English of the nineteenth century. He is considered by many to be the “Father of Anthropology”. The central conclusion of the work is the unity of the human species, which has been acted upon by causes that have since divided it into permanent varieties or races. In his Preface, he writes: “In the course of this essay I have maintained the opinion that all mankind constitute but one race or proceed from a single family”. In this summary passage Prichard indicates Africa (indirectly) as the place of human origin: “On the whole, there are many reasons which lead us to the conclusion that the primitive stock of men were probably Negroes, and I know of no argument to be set on the other side.” Could this be the first historic recognition that “Black Lives Matter”? Note: Latin, Greek and German passages recorded by Kazbek. (Summary by John Greenman & Wikipedia) [chương_files]