I have a distinct memory of reading a passage in a class on the Roman Empire that attributed differences in size and intelligence between the different peoples of the world to temperature. The cold of Germany made the Germans big and stupid, the heat of Egypt made the Egyptians small and cunning, and Italy was just the right balance of hot and cold to make the perfect person.
Who made this claim. I thought it was Tacitus in the Germainia but when I reread it recently I couldn't find the passage. Are there any scholars of Roman history who can help me? I have a nagging suspicion that it's from one of Tacitus' more minor works but I could be completely off.
Thanks Roman history scholars, or gratias tibi, rerum auctores Romanus!
I think this was quite a common idea in antiquity which went back to classical Greece. I found this via google, from Aristotle's Politics, 7.7:
Having spoken of the number of the citizens, we will proceed to speak of what should be their character. This is a subject which can be easily understood by any one who casts his eye on the more celebrated states of Hellas, and generally on the distribution of races in the habitable world. Those who live in a cold climate and in Europe are full of spirit, but wanting in intelligence and skill; and therefore they retain comparative freedom, but have no political organization, and are incapable of ruling over others. Whereas the natives of Asia are intelligent and inventive, but they are wanting in spirit, and therefore they are always in a state of subjection and slavery. But the Hellenic race, which is situated between them, is likewise intermediate in character, being high-spirited and also intelligent. Hence it continues free, and is the best-governed of any nation, and, if it could be formed into one state, would be able to rule the world.
Of course the Romans would adapt it to make Italy the centre of everything, but it's the same idea.