What does "Linnaeus" primarily contribute to the study of race?

Linnaeus is primarily known for his contributions to the biological classification system, which laid the foundation for how species, including humans, are categorized. In his work, he introduced a hierarchical structure in taxonomy and famously classified humans within the animal kingdom, giving us the term "Homo sapiens." This classification marked an essential step in the study of race, as it formalized the idea of categorizing humans based on physical characteristics and traits.

His system aimed to classify all living organisms into groups based on shared characteristics, which, in the context of human beings, included observable physical traits. This classification influenced the way subsequent scholars approached the concept of race, leading to various interpretations and applications in anthropological and social thought. While there were other dimensions of biological diversity explored later, Linnaeus's contribution was seminal in initiating the formal study and classification of human differences.