Page 132 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol IV

pastoral nomadic societies 1433

women, and children) has a role in the various aspects of the seventh century BCE the Scythians and Sarmatians es-
production. These characteristics distinguish pastoral tablished distinct societies in south Russia and Ukraine.
nomads from European shepherds or U.S. cowboys who Their way of life spread east relatively rapidly until, by
are recruited from the larger sedentary society to which the third century BCE, culturally similar groups, Xiongnu,
they regularly return.All pastoral nomadic societies share Wusun,Yuehzhi,became well established on China’s north-
such structural similarities as tribal organization and a ern steppe frontier. For the next two thousand years a
strong bias toward patrilineal (through the paternal line) series of nomadic empires based there was to be China’s
descent and residence. greatest foreign policy challenge. The empires also con-
Pastoral nomadic societies are confined to the Old trolled key links of the Silk Road, the overland trade
World.The only area of indigenous large-animal domes- route that linked China with the West.
tication in the NewWorld was the high-mountain Andes The most powerful of these nomadic groups who suc-
in SouthAmerica,where llama-raising communities were cessively bordered China were the Xiongnu, Turks, Uig-
integrated parts of alpine farming villages and did not hurs, Mongols, Oirats, and Zunghars. In the West the
form separate pastoral nomadic societies. Sheep, goats, best-known steppe nomads of the medieval and early
horses,donkeys,and cattle were introduced into theAmer- modern periods included the Huns, Khazars, Kipchaks
icas only after the Spanish conquest during the 1500s. (Cumans), Golden Horde (Tatars), and Kalmuks. After
Although cattle raising became important in the western the Mongol conquest the Kazakhs,Turkmen, and Kirghiz
United States,Brazil,andArgentina,it was ranching done came to dominate central Asia.
by sedentary people.The capture of horses from the Span-
ish during the mid-seventeenth century by natives of the Southwestern and Central Asia:
U.S.Southwest did produce a classic nomadic society,the Sheep and Goats
Plains Indians, but they were mounted hunters who fol- The mountain and plateau areas of southwestern and
lowed herds of bison,an animal they never domesticated. central Asia are dominated by pastoral nomadic societies
who raise sheep and goats and use horses, camels, and
Main Types and donkeys for transport. Pastoral nomadic societies there
Key Animals have always had a symbiotic relationship with neigh-
The variety of animals raised by pastoral nomadic soci- boring towns as economic specialists, trading meat ani-
eties is surprisingly small: six widely distributed species mals, wool, milk products, and hides for grain and
(sheep, goats, cattle, horses, donkeys, and camels) and manufactured goods. Indeed, many settled villages are of
two species with restricted distribution in Asia (yaks at nomad origin because poor nomad families settle into
high altitudes and reindeer at northern sub-Arctic lati- peasant villages when they become impoverished due to
tudes). Dogs are also often kept for protection. Pastoral the loss of their animals.
nomadic societies fall into six distinct types, each with a Nomads coming from central Asia came to dominate
key animal that has primary cultural importance and a this region politically from 1000 to 1500 and estab-
specific geographical range. lished a series of important dynasties on the Iranian and
Anatolian Plateaus.These dynasties included the Seljuqs,
Eurasian Steppe: Horses Ghaznavids, Khwarazm Shahs, Mongol Il-Khans, Tim-
In the Eurasian steppe zone nomads give pride of place urids, Uzbeks, and Ottomans. From 1500 onward no-
to the horse, although they also raise sheep, goats, cattle, mads formed powerful regional confederations who
and Bactrian (two-humped) camels.Although the domes- retained considerable autonomy until well into the twen-
tication of the horse may have occurred as early as 4000 tieth century. Important nomadic components of such
BCE, the emergence of horse riding after 1000 BCE laid primarily sedentary groups as the Pashtuns, Kurds, and
the foundation of steppe nomadic power. Beginning in Baluch also existed.