The Secret Doctrine is one of the most influential esoteric and occult books of all time. In the first part of the book the author explains the origin and evolution of the universe itself, in terms derived from the Hindu concept of cyclical development. While in the second part she describes the origins of humanity through an account of "Root Races" said to date back millions of years.

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky was a Russian occultist, philosopher, and author who co-founded the Theosophical Society. She gained an international following as the leading theoretician of Theosophy, the esoteric religion that the society promoted. Informally, she is also widely known as Madame Blavatsky.