Caucasian

The term "Caucasian" has two primary meanings. The earliest and most literal sense refers to people from the Caucasus region, a mountainous area between the Black and Caspian Seas. The second, more common meaning refers to the racial group often described as "white," encompassing people of European ancestry.123

The concept of "scientific racism," which emerged in the 17th century, falsely posited that human races were immutable biological facts and created hierarchical classifications with Europeans at the top. These theories, which sought to justify colonial dominance, have been debunked by modern anthropological and genetic studies. While "Caucasian" is often used interchangeably with "white," many people considered Caucasian do not originate from the Caucasus region.41