A Tribal Society Essay, Research Paper

Despite contrasts and variety economic patterns and

cultural patterning ? social structure almost always tribal.? Immediate family, accessible family and

much larger family.? Tribes seen

via line of descent from eponymous ancestor.? Fellow tribesmen, same family, defend each other. Many large solidarity groups of considerable

stability and seem to function as cohesive and virtually autonomous social

units Tribe and increasing sub-divisions within focus for

primary loyalty ? defence against insult or injury. Sub-divisions between lineages could lead to

bitterness and rivalry between lineages etc.? Tribe brings social stability, but subdivisions mean not

always social support. Lineages and tribes constantly evolving ? hard to

trace formation, lineages graduated to tribe status, but periods of

stability. Bakr tribal group 600 in northeastern Arabia – but

sharp internal differences in smaller groups within effective foci of

loyalty. Genealogy ? primary representation of political

realities within a tribe ? upper echelons ? reconstructed at upper levels

to reflect power rships. Clear political purpose in genealogies.