Final answer:
Monogenism and polygenism were two different theories about the origin of races. Monogenism suggested a single origin for all human races, while polygenism proposed multiple origins for each race.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the field of anthropology, the old ideas of monogenism and polygenism were different theories about the origin of races. Monogenism suggested that all human races came from a single origin, while polygenism proposed that each race originated from different ancestors. Monogenism was associated with the belief in a single human family, while polygenism supported the notion of separate races with distinct characteristics.