The great Aryan or Indo-Caucasian race, which at the present moment includes the most advanced of Earth's inhabitants, is one of these.

That which came before it in the order of evolution was the Mongolian race, usually called in Theosophical books Atlantean because the continent from which it ruled the world lay where now roll the waters of the Atlantic ocean.

Before that came the Negroid race, some of whose descendants still exist, though by this time much mingled with offshoots of later races.

From each of these great root-races there are many offshoots which we call sub-races--such, for example, as the Roman races or the Teutonic; and each of the sub-races in turn divides itself into branch-races, such as the French and the Italians, the English and the Germans.
These arrangements are made in order that for each ego there may be a wide choice of varying conditions and surroundings.

Each race is especially adapted to develop within its people one or other of the qualities which are needed in the course of evolution.