What does race mean in fantasy?

In modern Fantasy and Science fiction, race is a descriptor used to describe the various sapient species and beings that make up the setting. In tabletop role-playing games, players may choose to be one of these creatures when creating their player character (PC) or encounter them as a non-player character (NPC).

Why is it called race not species?

From wikipedia: A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which two individuals can produce fertile offspring. Races are not separate species because they can produce fertile offspring.

Is there a difference between species and race?

Race vs Species Race is a system of classification of human beings only, whereas species is the most refined division of all life forms. Race has no biological basis whereas organisms that can mate and produce offspring are classified under the same category of species.

Why is race not a subspecies?

Races are not subspecies of the human species. There is only one “race”—the human race. The answer is that the human species doesn’t have much genetic variation. We are too alike to split into groups.

What species are elf?

Elves are very close to humans on a biological level, but hey so are chimpanzees… Elves belong to the same genus as humans but not to the same specie, unlike Neanderthals (brut men) who are the same species, and so are Hin (halflings).

When did humans split into races?

Genetic distance estimates suggest that among the three major races of man the first divergence occurred about 120,000 years ago between Negroid and a group of Caucasoid and Mongoloid and then the latter group split into Caucasoid and Mongoloid around 60,000 years ago.

When was race defined?

Race as a categorizing term referring to human beings was first used in the English language in the late 16th century. Until the 18th century it had a generalized meaning similar to other classifying terms such as type, sort, or kind.

Which term refers to the belief that members of separate races possess different and unequal traits?

Racism is the belief that members of separate races possess different and unequal human traits.