Definition of tribal

The word "tribal" originates from the Latin "tribus," meaning tribe. In ancient Rome, a tribus referred to one of the 35 territorial divisions of the Roman people. Each tribus was distinguished by its own name, symbol, and boundaries. The term was later adopted into Middle English as "tribe," referring to a group of people sharing a common ancestry, culture, or territory. From the 16th century onwards, the term "tribal" began to be used to describe non-Western societies, particularly indigenous groups in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. In this context, "tribal" often connotes a sense of primitiveness, simplicity, and cultural backwardness compared to Western societies. Today, the term "tribal" is often used in anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies to refer to any group of people who share a common identity, tradition, or territorial claim. While the term can still be problematic due to its connotations of cultural superiority, it remains a widely used and important concept in understanding human diversity and social organization.