Tribe

War on the Plains: Comanche vs Osage by George Catlin, 1834

Isolated Peoples

Afghan men of the Alizay Kulay village in Kandahar Province

A tribe is a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states. Many anthropologists use the term to refer to a social group that is larger than a band but smaller than a chiefdom, and that is typically organized around kinship or descent groups.

Characteristics

Tribes are often characterized by a shared culture, language, and history. They are typically organized into smaller units, such as clans or lineages, which are connected by kinship ties. Leadership within tribes is often informal and based on personal qualities, such as wisdom or bravery, rather than formal authority.

Historical Context

Historically, tribes have been found in many parts of the world, including Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania. They have often been studied by anthropologists as examples of pre-state societies. In many cases, tribes have been affected by the expansion of state societies, leading to changes in their social structures and ways of life.

Modern Tribes

In the modern world, the concept of a tribe has evolved. Some groups that identify as tribes have formal recognition by governments, while others do not. In some cases, the term "tribe" is used to describe indigenous peoples who maintain traditional ways of life, while in other contexts it may refer to social groups that have formed in response to modern challenges.

Related Concepts

The concept of a tribe is related to other social structures, such as clans, bands, and chiefdoms. Each of these structures represents a different level of social organization, with tribes typically being more complex than bands but less centralized than chiefdoms.

Related pages

• Indigenous peoples
• Anthropology
• Kinship
• Social structure

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