Finnish race, ethnology
Originally nomads (hunters and fishers), all the Finnic people except the Lapps and Ostyaks have long yielded to the influence of civilization, and now everywhere lead settled lives as herdsmen, agriculturists, traders, &c. Physically the Finns (here to be distinguished from the Swedish-speaking population, who retain their Scandinavian qualities) are a strong, hardy race, of low stature, with almost round head, low forehead, flat features, prominent cheek bones, eyes mostly grey and oblique (inclining inwards), short and flat nose, protruding mouth, thick lips, neck very full and strong, so that the occiput seems flat and almost in a straight line with the nape; beard weak and sparse, hair no doubt originally black, but, owing to mixture with other races, now brown, red and even fair; complexion also somewhat brown. The Finns are morally upright, hospitable, faithful and submissive, with a keen sense of personal freedom and independence, but also somewhat stolid, revengeful and indolent. Many of these physical and moral characteristics they have in common with the so-called "Mongolian" race, to which they are no doubt ethnically, if not also linguistically, related.The article on Finland can be found here, here and here.
-Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, 1911
Article on "Finland", p. 387.
EDIT: As people seem to think this holds water, let me paste here the text I wrote in the comments;
This theory was popular hundred years ago - if it was researched, I can't tell how. The "theory" served the same purpose as those written of Africans - that due to "submissive" nature, the Finns should be ruled by a a more dominative race. Namely, by Swedes and Russians.
The view of Finns as Mongolians was well spread, however, and till around World War 2 foreign reporters writing about Finns could be expected to remark how that particular specimen under observation - were it a politician, athletic or a businessman - was "uncommonly European for his race".
This all changed starting in the 40s. First Winter War, then Continuation War fought along Adolf "Pure Race" Hitler followed by Olympics in 1952 buried this theory well into the rubbish bin to which it deservedly belongs.
It is, however, good to remember stereotypes like this and how absurd they are, as most likely some of the ones we hold today are as idiotic as the one above.
Sounds like the people who wrote this were also the ones who wrote that the words "Slave" and "Slavic" are related, that these (Slavic) people are unable to conduct a civilized society on their own and that their preferred pastime is drinking.
ReplyDeletenowadays FInns are having very fair skin and hair, but its somehow very true that their facial bone structure remains Mongolian.
ReplyDeletehttp://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/122/cache/western-mongolian-man_12253_600x450.jpg
http://asiasociety.org/files/mongoliamotherdaughter.jpg
interesting mixture.
Very interesting. I read that they were the most blonde race in the universe even above the Norwegians and Swedes. Interesting that they are related to mongolians.
ReplyDeleteThey aren't. This was just a theory that was popular hundred years ago - if it was researched, I can't tell how. The "theory" served the same purpose as those written of Africans - that due to "submissive" nature, the Finns should be ruled by a a more dominative race. Namely, by Swedes and Russians.
ReplyDeleteThe view of Finns as Mongolians was well spread, however, and till around World War 2 foreign reporters writing about Finns could be expected to remark how that particular specimen - were it a politician, athletic or a businessman - to be "uncommonly European for his race".
This all changed starting in the 40s. First Winter War, then Continuation War fought along Adolf "Pure Race" Hitler followed by Olympics in 1952 puried this theory well into the rubbish bin to which it deservedly belongs.
It is, however, good to remember stereotypes like this and how absurd they are, as most likely some of the ones we hold today are as idiotic as the one above.