nomads

Nomads are people who move regularly instead of living in one fixed location. Mobility is driven by the seasonal availability of resources, animal husbandry needs, trade routes, or climatic conditions. Nomadic livelihoods are often complemented by temporary encampments and portable dwellings; some groups maintain enduring migratory circuits that span hundreds or thousands of kilometers.

Nomadism is commonly categorized by economic strategy: pastoral nomadism centers on herding livestock; hunter-gatherer nomadism relies on mobile foraging; and peripatetic nomadism consists of itinerant groups providing specialized services or crafts. Semi-nomadic or transhumant practices involve seasonal movement between negotiated winter and summer pastures while maintaining permanent settlements.

Historically, nomadic societies have appeared in many regions, including Central Asia, North Africa and the Sahel, the Middle East, the Caucasus, the Arctic, the steppes of Eurasia, and the Americas. Notable examples include pastoralist groups such as the Mongols, Tuareg, Bedouin, Kazakhs, and Sámi, among others. Technological and social adaptations—portable dwellings like yurts, tents, or tipis; shared herd management; and kin-based governance—have supported long-distance mobility.

In the modern era, nomadic populations face pressures from national borders, land privatization, climate change, and economic development. Some communities retain traditional routes while adopting formal education, healthcare, and market integration. International law and cultural heritage initiatives seek to protect languages, customs, and mobility rights while balancing sedentary development.