Tribe

The term tribe is used to describe a kind of human social group. In the study of cultures called anthropology, a tribe is a group bigger than a small family like a lineage or clan, but smaller than a chiefdom, ethnicity, nation, or state.

In many places, tribes can have special rights and some self-government, even though they are part of a larger country. For example, in the United States, Native American tribes have their own governments and a special relationship with the federal government, often called a government-to-government connection.

The idea of a tribe shows how people have lived together in communities for thousands of years. Tribes have strong bonds among members and share traditions, beliefs, and ways of life. Learning about tribes helps us understand the diversity of human societies and how different cultures organize themselves.

Etymology

The word tribe in English comes from an older word in Middle English called tribu. This word came from the Latin word tribus. We are not sure if it came through a language like Old French or directly from Latin. The Latin word tribus might have roots in an even older language.

Classification

A tribe is a group of families who share things like language, traditions, or where they live. People who study human societies have tried to sort groups into different kinds. They talk about hunter-gatherer groups, tribes with some leaders, tribes with more organized leaders, and big civilizations with complex governments.

The idea of a tribe can be tricky because tribes change over time and can include people who speak different languages or follow different leaders. Some thinkers think the word "tribe" is not always the best way to describe these groups.

Present-day

See also: Pashtun tribes, Kurdish tribes, Albanian tribes, Tribes of Yemen, Arab tribes of Algeria, India tribal belt, List of federally recognized tribes in the contiguous United States, and Iwi

Most tribes today are part of bigger countries and do not act on their own. They have lost some old ways, like collecting taxes and protecting their land. These jobs are now done by the government. Many tribes have lost parts of their culture, but some still keep their traditions alive. Others have gained legal rights to protect their way of life.

Anthropologist Fried suggested that many tribes today started from smaller groups called bands. He said tribes can form in two ways. First, countries might help groups become tribes to make managing faraway areas easier. Second, bands might join together to form tribes to stay safe from powerful countries. In places like North America, tribes are seen as special nations with certain rights.

Yemen is known for having many tribes, with estimates from around 200 to over 400 tribes, showing how important tribal leaders are there.