was there racism in graeco-roman antiquity.?

Question

Ethiopian is said to be Greek for "burnt face" that sounds kind of pejorative.

Answer 1

Definitely. While the ancient Greeks (generally speaking, of course) didn't focus so much upon skin complection, they did believe in purity of descent, inherited characteristics, and environmental influences of particular groups of people. I noticed that people mentioned "barbarians". Who do you guys think the Greeks referred to as barbarians? Certain nations, races, and other groups of people- That's who. Plato, Aristotle, Strabo, and others, made statements which expressed their belief that "barbarians" were inferior and deserved to be enslaved. Were these "barbarians" only non-white? NO! Most Europeans were "barbarians" according to ancient Greeks. Race, however, did figure into their views on "barbarianism".

Answer 2

They were racist originally by nationality and less on color. Once religion came into play, it was one factor that created the first racial divide. Basically, if I didn't worship the way you did, then I must hate you. The entire non-Western world was forced into Christianity when that region was invaded by a dominate Western Nation. For instance, being a Christian was not the beliefs of Africans of the time. The Greek work "Afric" means "without cold." The word "*****" is an early Spanish word meaning "Black Object." The historical Crusades for Christ and influence of "Constantine" led to the permanent stay of Christianity. At any rate, the Ancient Greeks were the first known race haters and there actions filtered down to the Roman Empire, into the Christian Church, Western Expiditions,The Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, Plymouth Rock, Manifest Destiny, KKK, Aldolf Hitler, Civil Right Movement, ...2007! Through no fault of its own, religion was the spark that ignited racism.

Answer 3

Um, honestly the Africans and Europeans had a good relationship. They traded goods and had a great influence on one another cultures. there are many wars were Europeans paid Africans to fight with them.

However, in terms of racism, there was racism for more of the barbarians then anything. Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Lombard's, vandals, franks, etc, all of them were hated by the Romans with passion. Romans believed that anyone who wasn't roman was below them including a lot of African. Excluding Egypt, Greek, Cartage at their moments and other city states.

Answer 4

The Greeks were extremely racist, but not in the same sense as modern racism. The dividing line wasn't between different skin colors, it was between Greeks and barbarians (non-Greeks). They thought of barbarians in much the same way that modern racists think of blacks and other "lower" races.

The Romans were similar.

They would certainly have been racist against black people but no moreso than they were racist against Persians or Thracians (people from what is now Bulgaria). They would have thought of them all as subhumans.

Answer 5

Of course there was. It's a natural human feeling to want to be with your own kind. And no matter how much a government tries to stifle it, it will continue to be human nature. Just look at how minorities look at Europeans, continuosly wanting "reparations" while ignoring how my people are treated in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sudan, etc...

Answer 6

Racism has existed for as long as people existed, but I don't think "burnt face" was meant as an insult. If they said "stupid face" then that would be different.