hõimudel
The term *hõimudel* (pronounced "hoo-mu-del") refers to a conceptual framework or model used primarily in Estonian linguistics and cultural studies to describe the historical and social organization of pre-modern Estonian society. The term translates loosely to "tribal model" or "tribal structure," emphasizing the communal and kinship-based social formations that characterized Estonian society before the advent of centralized state administration.
The *hõimudel* posits that Estonian society was historically divided into semi-autonomous tribal groups (*hõimud*), each with
The concept gained prominence in the 20th century as scholars sought to explain Estonian pre-state history,
The *hõimudel* is often discussed in relation to historical sources such as the *Chronicle of Henry of