Mediterranean race

The Mediterranean race (also Mediterranid race) is an obsolete racial classification of humans based on the now-disproven theory of biological race. According to writers of the late 19th to mid-20th centuries it was a sub-race of the Caucasian race. In various definitions it was said to be prevalent in the Mediterranean Basin and areas near the Mediterranean and Black Sea, especially in Southern Europe, Eastern Europe, North Africa, most of West Asia, the Middle East or Near East; western Central Asia, parts of South Asia, and parts of the Horn of Africa. To a lesser extent, certain populations of people in Ireland and western parts of Great Britain, despite living far from the Mediterranean, were thought to have some minority Mediterranean elements in their population, such as Wales and Cornwall. Irish people with black hair and dark complexions were said to be the descendants of Spanish sailors shipwrecked during the Spanish Armada of 1588 and were often referred to as "Black Irish" particularly in the United States. Carleton S. Coon characterized the subgroup as having shorter or medium (not tall) stature, a long (dolichocephalic) or moderate (mesocephalic) skull, a narrow and often slightly aquiline nose, the prevalence of dark hair and eyes, and frequently darker skin, ranging from cream to tan or dark brown skin tone; olive complexion being especially common and epitomizing the supposed Mediterranean race.