GEN&SEX 139 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Scientific Revolution, Carl Linnaeus, Atlantic Slave Trade
8 Nov 2016
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How was human difference conceptualized in the west before the 16th century. To classical greeks, the major distinction among humans was between greeks and barbarians. Temperament diffeances were linked to the environment. To classical greejs, sex organs were not the determining factor in sexual character. Galen: male and female genitalia are essentially the same, but one internal and one external. Females lack the heat needed to propel organs outward. Women were viewed as distinct and inferior to men because of lesser amount of heat. Artistotles scala natueae: classified nature according to mixture of four elements along a fixed ladder of perfection . Then fiery animals: the scala naturawe was adapted by thomas aquinas as the great chain of being. While slavery was common in classical greece and rome, it was not linked to race: some indiviuals were natural slaves and some were natural rulers, any captured or conqqered people could be slaves.
