What kinds of communities did the Slavic tribes in the Balkans form?

Following the Slavic invasions of the Balkan Peninsula in the 6th and 7th centuries CE, Slavic tribes—including those that settled in the regions of Bulgaria—organized themselves into patriarchal communities.1

These tribes primarily practiced a pastoral way of life or tilled the soil. Their social organization was based on the zadruga, which functioned as an extended family unit. Locally, several zadruge were grouped under the authority of a župan, or chieftain.123

Because kinship and local ties were so central to their social structure, sustained collaboration between larger groups was often difficult. However, on occasion, multiple župani would unite under a veliki župan, or grand chieftain, to exert control over larger territories for limited periods.23