In scheme theory, an algebraic scheme is the data of a scheme + a morphism of finite type to the spectrum of a field. Where does the term "algebraic scheme" come from? It does not seem intuitive to me (to me all schemes are equally algebraic, others may have a different opinion). Are there any historical accounts regarding this matter? Here is [one mention][1] of the category of algebraic schemes without an explicit reference to the base (though it appears that in that terminology all schemes are understood to come with a morphism to the spectrum of a field). In [the Stacks Project][2], they use "algebraic $k$-schemes" (with $k$ being a field). [1]: https://math.stackexchange.com/q/2197483/680178 [2]: https://stacks.math.columbia.edu/tag/06LF