Charles Morris "The Aryan Race"

Charles Morris 1888, "The Aryan Race: Its Origins and Its Achievements"

      Charles Morris     

In this late nineteenth century popular history book, Charles Morris attempted to explore the origins and development of the Aryan race. This work presented "Aryan" as the collective label for Indo-European peoples, celebrating their supposed "cultural and historical achievements". Morris was writing for a broad readership, blending linguistic ideas with racial speculation, typical of late 19th-century popular nonfiction.

The book delves into the ancient history of the Indo-European people, tracing their migration patterns and cultural influences. The book also examines the role of the Aryan race in shaping world history, including their impact on religion,  language, and politics. Morris provides a comprehensive analysis of the Aryan race, drawing on a range of sources including archaeological evidence, linguistic research, and historical accounts. The book is an engaging and informative read for anyone interested in the history of human civilization and the origins of modern society.1888. The origin and achievements of the Aryan Race outlining the history of the great and noble family of mankind which has played so striking a part upon the stage of the world. Contents: Types of Mankind; Home of the Aryan; Aryan Outflow; Aryans at Home; Household and the Village; Double System of Aryan Worship; Course of Political Development; Development of Language; Age of Philosophy; Aryan Literature; Other Aryan Characteristics; Historical Migrations; Future Status of Human Races" (Amazon, advertising a recent facsimile reprint).

Another from Good Reads for another recent reprint:

Written in 1888, long before the term had any negative connotations, The Aryan Race: Its Origins and its Achievements opens with a racial definition of who Aryans and goes on to show how modern Indo-European languages clearly come from a common root. This leads Charles Morris to the Pontic Steppe between the Caspian and the Black Sea as the original Aryan homeland.
There follows a description of ancient Aryan households and farming methods, and how these led to the development of legal systems, cultural and religious practices and political structures.
An in-depth analysis of the Rig-Vedas and the Zend Avesta shows their similarity to Greek and Roman myths and the parallels with the Norse Edda as well as the Irish Cuchulainn.
The late 19th century was a time of unparalleled European supremacy over the world, and the final chapter foresees the continuation of unrivalled Aryan dominance throughout the 20th century and beyond.
Events haven't played out as Morris predicted, but nonetheless, his unbridled confidence teaches the modern reader a much-needed lesson: The only path to racial preservation lies in physical geographical separation, not Aryan rule over other races. |

"A treasure-trove of facts, legends and stories, all reflecting the collective genius of Aryan peoples across the centuries."

"A politically incorrect take on white history and culture from before the idea of political incorrectness even existed" 

And an 'anti-advert' from Books-a-million:

"[...] What began in the late 19th century as a startlingly inept work of wishful thinking, outrageous conjecture, and bald racism masquerading as scholarship transformed itself, in the late 20th century, into a foundational work of neo-Nazi philosophy. Positing an heretofore-and subsequently-entirely unknown culture of Indo-Europeans as the standard bearers of all human progress and initiative, this 1888 work strings together a portrait of the "Aryan race" from carefully chosen scraps of religious, political, and social systems from across the Old World into a house of historical cards. Useless as a guide to human cultural origins, "The Aryan Race" is nevertheless essential reading for anyone hoping to understand the modern subculture of white supremacists, and how they come by their extreme doctrines. Charles Morris (1833-1922) also wrote A Manual of Classical Literature, Aryan Sun-Myths: The Origin of Religion, Heroes of Discovery in America, and The San Francisco Calamity."

Morris was a prolific writer, many of his works can be read online. The Aryans book can currently be downloaded here.
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