When Europeans Created Racial Classification Systems in the 18th Century

When Europeans created racial classification systems in the 18th century, they

A) were trying to confront and combat their own racism
B) came to the conclusion that all people groups have the same capacities but developed differently for historical and geographic reasons
C) began to recognize the superiority of non-whites and so quickly stopped their project, fearful of the political repercussions
D) consistently placed Europeans at the top of their racial hierarchies