Joseph Gobineau

Joseph Gobineau (1816-1882) was a French aristocrat, writer, and anthropologist known for his theories on racial hierarchy and the concept of Aryan superiority, which laid groundwork for modern racial ideology. His most notable work, 'An Essay on the Inequality of the Human Races,' published in 1853, posited that the Aryan race was superior and responsible for cultural achievements, significantly influencing future racial theories, including those adopted by the Nazis.