Ethnology (from the Greek ?????, ethnos meaning “habit, custom, convention”) is the branch of anthropology that compares and analyzes the origins, distribution, religion, language, and social structure of the ethnic, racial, and/or national divisions of humanity. The term was first used by Adam Franz Kollár who defined it in his Historiae ivrisqve pvblici Regni Vngariae amoenitates published in Vienna in 1783.
In his World Ethnology from 6000 BC, G Jayasena provides us with a sweeping view of ancient ethnology and civilisation. Beginning from the Elamitic period, with its beginnings in Turkestan, the book encompasses varied topics, touches upon the introduction of Indian architecture to Ceylon, which was highly advanced, and as the author says, “held a unique position connected as it was with their (Kshatriyas’) military duties, on whom had devolved the guardianship of Aryan culture and traditions.”
The book also devotes a section to Noah and his descendants—the Armenians and Hittites, and also alludes to the cult of the Golden Calf, which was “brought into historical relief in Egypt during the age of Amenophis II (1460- 1420)”.
In this work, the author does display a slight tendentiousness towards the Aryans- among the earliest settlers who occupied an area close to Mount Torus situated north of North Syria, and who in the course of time organised themselves into Kshatriya, Brahmin and Vaisya castes, with the aim of preserving their racial and cultural purity. The Aryans were highly advanced in mathematics, astronomy and a score of other sciences. According to the author, the Aryan genius foresaw that the world would be corrupted with rank materialism as a result of putting commerical interest first. There is an in-depth discussion of Aryan culture in Chapter X, which considers all aspects—religious, commercial and scientific, of the Aryan age.
(Research Books, B-5/263, Yamuna Vihar, Delhi-110 053)
