Melanesians

Melanesians is a term coined by the French explorer Jules Dumont d' Urville term for the inhabitants of New Guinea, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands and Indigenous Australia.

Conceptual history

The term " Melanesian " has become controversial because it implies the existence of a Melanesian race. Primarily, however, he has as a proper name of that population (about ten million people ) prevailed. In today's use of the term is expected the indigenous peoples of the following islands to the Melanesians: New Guinea ( Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian province of West Papua ), New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. However, the Melanesians are culturally, ethnically and linguistically very different. Genetically they are more related to the Australian Aborigines with migrated through their territory Polynesians.

In early boundaries of the Melanesians of the neighboring population groups in addition to the dark skin color played ( melas = Greek for "black" ) or the hair also some characteristics a role that would be described today as racist, such as " hostility toward whites", " ugliness of their wives " etc.

Biological features

The Melanesians and Australian Aborigines are the only dark-skinned ethnicities, where blonde hair can occur. The Melanesians a specific variant surface of red blood cells is remarkably often. She seems to protect people from malaria infections. As the only known human group, the Melanesians may originate in part from the Denisova people, relatives of Neanderthals, from.