Race (human Classification) - Historical Origins of Racial Classification

Historical Origins of Racial Classification

See also: Historical definitions of race

Groups of humans have probably always identified themselves as distinct from other groups, but such differences have not always been understood to be natural, immutable and global. These features are the distinguishing features of how the concept of race is used today.

The word "race" was originally used to refer to any nations or ethnic groups. Marco Polo in his 13th-century travels, for example, describes the Persian raceā€”the current concept of "race" dates back only to the 17th century.

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