Western Civilization II / Unit 10 WC2 0904 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Gobineau: Hierarchy in the Language of Science
Captions available
The idea
Gobineau's Essay on the Inequality of the Human Races of the eighteen fifties recast the nobility as a once-pure superior race diluted by mixing, in the language of science. The anchor calls it scientific nonsense and the bridge from traditional hierarchy to Social Darwinism, anti-Semitism and Nazi ideology.
In practice
Hitler cited him, the anchor notes.
Where people slip
Anchor-only; unit 12 takes up the pseudo-science.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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