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In the racial anthropology of the early 20th century, the Armenoid type is a subtype of the Caucasian race. According to anthropologist Carleton Coon, the countries of the northern part of Western Asia, namely Anatolia, the Caucasus, Iran, and the Levant, were considered the center of distribution of the Armenoid race. Armenians and Certain Semitic-speaking peoples, such as, the Lebanese, Syrians, Jordanians, Palestinians, and the ancient Phoenicians, and the Assyrians are members of this race.

Origin, distribution and physiognomy

Carleton S. Coon wrote that the Armenoid racial type is very similar to the Dinaric race, most probably due to racial mixture with the Mediterraneans (who often have olive skin) and the Alpines (who often have brown skin). The only difference is that Armenoids have a slightly darker pigmentation. He described the Armenoid as a sub-race of the Caucasoid race. Armenoids were said to be found throughout Eurasia. However, the largest concentrations occurred within Anatolia, Transcaucasia, Iran, and Mesopotamia. Known as the "true" Caucasians, Armenoids were relatively tall, usually with medium to dark brown or black hair, light to medium skin colour, large round eyes that were usually brown; a round, brachycephalic head shape with a straight backing (planocciput) (see Cephalic index), high cheekbones and non-prominent chins. Lips were full, and noses were often aquiline. Large minority of Armenoids have blond hair and blue, green, or hazel eyes. This racial type was believed to be prevalent among the Armenians, Assyrians, and Iraqis. Renato Biasutti described the Armenoid race as having: "Opaque-white skin, brunet hair and eyes, abundant pilosity; medium stature (166), sturdy body build; wide head with rounded occiput (87); very long face, straight and narrow nose (57) with high bridge; thin lips, narrow eye opening. It was also an element in Southern Europe. Armenoid was also identified as the dominant type of the indigenous Semitic groups of Syria and Mesopotamia: the ancient Amorites, the modern Assyrians, Syriacs, and Chaldeans, the northern and central Iraqis, and includes some people who identify as Arabs. The religious minorities of Lebanon and Syria, and the Jordanian, Palestinan, religious minorities of Lebanon and Syria, and the Lebanese and Syrians of mountainous regions were all identified as being of the Armenoid type.

It has long been believed by physical anthropologists that the quintessence of Near Eastern brachycephaly is to be found in the Armenians; the racial term Armenoid being named for them. The Armenians have long been established in the territory which is now only partly theirs; they had, before the arrival of the Turks, a powerful kingdom, which covered most of the territory between the Gulf of Alexandretta and the Caucasus.

Prominent Nazi and racial theorist Hans F. K. Günther used the term Near Eastern race to describe the Armenoid type, and ascribed Near Eastern characteristics to several contemporary peoples, including: Armenians, Jews, Greeks, Iranians, Syrians, and Turks. Günther regarded Jews as people of multiple racial origins but defined the Near Eastern race as their major basis, and described the race's characteristics with anti-Semitic themes, such as that the race was known for its "commercial spirit" and as "artful traders" whom had strong psychological manipulation capacities that helped their trade, as well as being known to exploit people. Günther's conception has been criticized for pseudoscientific analysis. Zionists historically identified Jews as within the Armenoid type in the name of the Near Eastern race. Zionists utilized the Armenoid type in the name of the Near Eastern race, and identified Jews as a particular group within that type.

Types

The Armenoid is divided into four types: Armenid, Anatolid, Assyrid, and Caucasid.

Armenid- This type is predominant among Armenians and Ashkenazi Jews.

Anatolid- Armenoid subtype that is found predominantly among Turkish people. They are somewhat darker and more slender than Armenids.

Assyrid- Both Assyrians and Levantine Arabs belong to this type. Assyrids are of middling height and a massive bodybuild.

Caucasid- Tall slender type prevalent among the people of the Caucasus.

See also

• Caucasian race
• Historical race concepts
• Pamirid race

References

1. Ripley, William Z. (1899). The Races of Europe: A Sociological Study. D. Appleton & Company. p. 444.
2. "Carleton Coon, "Racial Distribution map"". Retrieved 1 May 2014.
3. Fisher, William B. (2003). The Middle East and North Africa, Volume 50. Routledge. p. 444. ISBN 978-1-85743-184-1. The northern and eastern hill districts contain many racial elements—Turkish, Persian, and proto-Nordic, with Armenoid strains predominating. the population of the riverine districts of Iraq displays a mixture of Armenoid and Mediterranean elements. North of the Baghdad district the Armenoid strain is dominant.
4. Fisher, William B. (1966). The Middle East: A Physical, Social and Regional Geography. Methuen. p. 96. ISBN 978-0-416-71510-1. Armenoid affinities are easily discerned in the peoples of northern and central Iraq., extract of page 444
5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-05-11. Retrieved 2012-05-11. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
6. Hitti, Philip K. (2002). History of Syria: including Lebanon and Palestine, Volume 1. Gorgias Press. p. 76. ISBN 1-931956-60-X.
7. Review: An Introduction to the Anthropology of the Near East by C. U. Ariëns Kappers, American Anthropologist, 37(35) - Pages 148-49 by W.M. Krogman
8. Hourani, Albert H. (1946). Syria and Lebanon: A Political Essay. Oxford University Press. p. 96.
9. The Races of Europe by Carleton Stevens Coon - (Chapter XII, section 18)
10. Alan E Steinweis. Studying the Jew: Scholarly Antisemitism in Nazi Germany. Harvard University Press, 2008. P. 29.
11. Alan E Steinweis. Studying the Jew: Scholarly Antisemitism in Nazi Germany. Harvard University Press, 2008. P. 29.
12. Alan E Steinweis. Studying the Jew: Scholarly Antisemitism in Nazi Germany. Harvard University Press, 2008. P. 29.
13. Mitchell B. Hart. Jews & Race: Writings on Identity & Difference, 1880-1940. Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA: Brandeis University Press, 2011. P. 247.
14. Mitchell B. Hart. Jews & Race: Writings on Identity & Difference, 1880-1940. Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA: Brandeis University Press, 2011. P. 247.

• Historical definitions of race