Tribalism is a flexible system involving strong in-group loyalty based on fluid notions of common lineal descent.  The system provided indigenous Jordanians with a highly-flexible local polity in which small kin groups have consistently and successfully adjusted to political and economic domination and change.  Based on the principle of claimed, common lineal descent, it provided the mechanism for individual households, or whole tribal sections, to shift between sedentary and nomadic ways when necessary.

Reference: http://www.hf-fak.uib.no/smi/paj/LaBianca.html

 

 

Edited 1/26/06 tlc