Geohumoral theory
Encyclopedia
Geohumoral Theory or Geohumoralism was a racialist
concept propounded in Renaissance Europe. Briefly, it "held that variations in topography
and climate
produced variations in national characteristics" (Wilson 133).
from http://muse.jhu.edu.proxy.binghamton.edu/journals/shakespeare_quarterly/v057/57.2floyd-wilson.html
This embodied the early modern "...common way of understanding human nature
...through analyzing how European bodies altered as a result of being in one climate rather than another – some Europeans, notably those in cold northern climes, such as the English and Scots, and those in southern climes, such as those close to the shores of tropical Africa, had their bodies altered sufficiently by environmental factors so as to be morally defective and physically decrepit" (Abulafia qtd. in Burnard par. 7). Geohumoralism was, in part, a philosophical justification for the European imperial encroachment
upon the "New World
."
from: http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/paper/burnardt.html
Racialism
Racialism is an emphasis on race or racial considerations. Currently, racialism entails a belief in the existence and significance of racial categories, but not necessarily that any absolute hierarchy between the races has been demonstrated by a rigorous and comprehensive scientific process...
concept propounded in Renaissance Europe. Briefly, it "held that variations in topography
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
and climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
produced variations in national characteristics" (Wilson 133).
from http://muse.jhu.edu.proxy.binghamton.edu/journals/shakespeare_quarterly/v057/57.2floyd-wilson.html
This embodied the early modern "...common way of understanding human nature
Human nature
Human nature refers to the distinguishing characteristics, including ways of thinking, feeling and acting, that humans tend to have naturally....
...through analyzing how European bodies altered as a result of being in one climate rather than another – some Europeans, notably those in cold northern climes, such as the English and Scots, and those in southern climes, such as those close to the shores of tropical Africa, had their bodies altered sufficiently by environmental factors so as to be morally defective and physically decrepit" (Abulafia qtd. in Burnard par. 7). Geohumoralism was, in part, a philosophical justification for the European imperial encroachment
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
upon the "New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
."
from: http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/paper/burnardt.html