Chiefdoms

/ˈtʃiːfdəmz/ noun

Definition

Plural of chiefdom; multiple territories or groups of people each ruled by their own chief.

Etymology

Simple plural form of 'chiefdom,' formed by adding '-s.' Used especially in anthropology and archaeology to discuss pre-state societies.

Kelly Says

Anthropologists often study 'chiefdoms' as a specific stage in social evolution between simple tribes and complex states—it's a word that lets scientists categorize thousands of different human societies in one useful term.

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