Humans must placate them to avoid terrible disasters. For the most part these alliances are based on ethnicity and territory. The gods, spirits, ancestors and people of one village or tribe are in constant battle with those of surrounding villages and tribes. When the men of one group defeat those of another, they attribute their success to the power of their gods and spirits. When they are defeated, they blame this on the weakness of their gods and spirits.
Territory plays an important role in tribal views of spiritual warfare.
Gods, spirits and ancestors reside in specific places or objects, and protect the people who reside on their lands. When a community is defeated, the people are expected to change their allegiance to the stronger god and serve him. Some Christians interpret the biblical data on spiritual warfare using the traditional tribal worldview with its emphasis on territory and power encounter. Satan is viewed as having authority over the earth, which he delegates to his demonic hierarchy. This is found in Zoroastrianism, Manicheism and Hinduism, and other cultures shaped by the Indo-European worldview.