What did Hippolyte Taine mean by race in his theory of literary criticism?

In his theory of literary criticism, the French critic and historian Hippolyte Taine identified "race" as one of the three primary conditioning factors—alongside milieu (environment) and moment (historical context)—that determine a work of art.12

By "race," Taine referred to the inherited disposition or temperament of a people, which he believed persists stubbornly over thousands of years. He viewed this innate quality as a fundamental causal force that, when combined with social, political, and geographical influences, shapes the psychology of an author and the resulting cultural artifacts of a given age. Taine’s approach sought to apply a scientific, deterministic method to the humanities, arguing that by studying these factors, one could uncover the underlying causes of human behavior and artistic expression.12