Explain who introduced these racial theories that were put
into practice during the colonial era.
The racial theories that were put into practice during the colonial era were mainly introduced by European scholars and writers who sought to justify the oppression and exploitation of people of color. One of the earliest proponents of these theories was the French philosopher, Count Arthur de Gobineau, who argued that different races had inherently different qualities and that the white race was superior to others.
Another prominent figure was Herbert Spencer, an English sociologist who developed the concept of Social Darwinism, which suggested that white Europeans (and their descendants) were biologically superior because they had evolved to be more advanced than other races. These theories were later expanded upon by other scholars and writers, including Francis Galton, who championed the idea of eugenics, and H. H. Goddard, who developed the concept of intelligence testing.
In addition to these individuals, the colonial powers themselves also played a significant role in promoting and implementing these ideas. For example, the British Empire created policies that explicitly favored white settlers and marginalize indigenous peoples, and the Spanish Empire established a caste system that ranked people based on their race and ancestry. These policies and practices were used to justify the exploitation and subjugation of non-white populations.