Among prehistoric men, the family was often the basis of the political order. Superior to the family were family systems and clans, with included the number of families stemming from a common ancestor.Still larger were the tribes, comprised usually of a number of clans or family system. Tribes often warred against one another, in disputes over such matters as land, water, cattle, or women. Yet there were also long periods of peace, which contributed to the development of more advanced cultures. Today in many parts of Africa the real government is still at the tribal state