The tunic is an ancient garment that originated in Byzantine Greece and became associated with citizens and non-citizens in the Roman Empire. It evolved from a simple knee-length garment to a long-sleeved look, and was worn by Roman soldiers under their armor. The Viking tunic was made of wool and worn without a belt, while modern tunics are often worn over leggings or jeans. The caftan is a related garment worn primarily by women in the Western world.
The word tunic is an almost direct translation of the Latin word tunic and is an ancient garment. It was first used by the Byzantine Greeks, but became the one most associated with citizens and non-citizens in the Roman Empire. However, in other countries that had little contact with Rome or Greece until later, such as the Norse groups commonly called Vikings, people wore simple robes. Perhaps the simple structure and design are responsible for its spontaneous evolution in various parts of the world.
The first style of robe was simple indeed. It was a long garment, typically knee-length, and was usually worn with a belt and a blouse above the belt. It generally featured short sleeves. Roman citizens could wear a toga over their tunic, and Roman soldiers wore them under their armor. The garment had an unsewn head portion, sleeve seams, and side seams. If you think of a potato sack with a slit for the head and openings on each side for the arms, you essentially have the garment.
The tunic gradually evolved into a long-sleeved look, which was perhaps well-suited to members of the Army. Having to fight in the snowy northern regions of Europe would have meant that the soldiers needed extra warmth. Also, the Rome venue had its periods of cooler weather, which would have made a sleeved garment more comfortable.
Anyone in Rome can wear a tunic, but colors and patterns can vary, indicating social status. To the non-Roman citizen, it would have been simple in design, made perhaps of wool or rough linen, and probably undyed. A non-citizen could not wear a robe with a toga as togas were a mark of citizenship. There is some dispute over the colors worn by soldiers. Some suggest that they were dyed red, or that only high-ranking soldiers could wear the red tunic. For the non-military citizen, they can be made in different colors or bleached a soft white.
Between the 5th and 8th centuries, there are references to the Viking tunic. In fact, members of the Society for Creative Anachronism will tell you exactly how to make one if you plan to dress up as a Viking for their fantasy-filled events. The Viking tunic may have been worn without a belt, and is usually made of wool. Today, and in the past, it became an important part of the priestly costume. Unlike the Roman or Viking tunic, the garment is floor length and does not have a belt.
You can also find many modern shirts built on this design, especially for women. A long tunic, hitting about mid-thigh, can be worn over leggings, stretch pants, or jeans and have the sides cut off. Trends towards a slightly tighter fit have resulted in a figure-flattering style, though many prefer to wear a looser fit for simple comfort. A related garment is the caftan, which can be worn by both men and women in parts of the Middle East, and is worn primarily by women in the Western world. The caftan is considered a loungewear in the west and can be floor length with a simple construction.
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