Race (human categorization)

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Race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 16th century in Europe and the Western world, when it was used to refer to various forms of geographic and kinship groups, often creating a hierarchy between them. By the 17th century, the term began to refer to physical (phenotypical) traits, and then later national affiliations or perceived ancestry. Modern science regards race as a social construct, an identity which is assigned based on rules made by society. While partly based on physical similarities within groups, race does not have an inherent physical or biological meaning. The concept of race is foundational to racism, the belief that humans can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another. Social conceptions and groupings of races have varied over time, often involving folk taxonomies that define essential types of individuals...

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