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Index/Topics/Racial Theories in the 19th Century

Racial Theories in the 19th Century

The term Semite was folded into emerging racial theories in the 19th century, producing a Semite that was described in racial, physical, and cultural terms.

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Feb 1, 2026

What is the historical definition of 'Semite' and how has it changed over time?

began as an 18th‑century scholarly label, derived from the biblical name Shem, to group a family of related languages now called Semitic languages; over the 19th century it was racialized and politici...