Discussing issues of race and ethnicity in the early modern period

This week we will be discussing issues of race and ethnicity in the early modern period. To what extent is the nature of race and identity created by religion?  Or is it created by trade and economics?  Is it created by a shared language?  Is it created by skin color?  Is it created by wealth or inequality?  Your question is this:  How does a community begin to identify itself, and how does it see others?  Feel free to share your thoughts on current events, personal history, or generalized ideas, as you feel appropriate.  This is a graded discussion.  You will need to make one original post.