“Caucasian” is an outdated term originally used to refer to some or all of the people of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and Central and South Asia. It was invented in the early 19th century by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, who felt the Caucasian “race” was best exemplified by people living in the Caucasus mountains of Georgia. It is widely misused today as a synonym for “white.” Although the concept of “race” is still widely popular, contemporary scientists have generally rejected the concept as simplistic and misleading.

The term is better avoided except in reference to people actually from the Caucasus.

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