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The Beginning
Migration has
started since many centuries ago. It began with a very simple form, but
moving from place to place is still the fixed feature of such life style.
Researches on
migrating way of life indicate that this phenomenon exists mostly in
semi-dried and marginal territories, i.e. in areas where there is not any
suitable piece of land for farming like slopes or stony grounds.
There are various
theories concerning the causes of such a way of life. Reference can be
made to some of them like the increase of population and expansion of
agriculture, economic structure of a given society, social and political
situations and ecological factors.
Two Kinds of Migration
There are two kinds of
migration:
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Horizontal
migration occurs in dry, flat, vast deserts where water and grass can
scarcely be found, like in Saudi Arabia?s deserts.
-
Vertical migration
occurs in regions with large difference in altitude where people move
from low altitudes to higher ones in search of more favorable weather
for their families and their animals, like in Iran.
Gypsies
They are wandering
in small and large groups in many parts of the world. Although we do not
precisely know their history, it seems that they have originated from India. The
color of their skin and their accent make us think so. In Iran, peddling
is their way of life. Gypsies also make metal tools like knives, sickles ?
and repair some farming tools. They often pitch tents near villages and
exchange goods for goods and, at times, for cash with villagers.
Some of gypsies are
wandering musicians appearing to people while harvesting or wedding and
skillfully play a few pieces of music, make them happy and earn some crops
? and go away.
They are not
dependent upon lands or animals and have no clear plans for migration.
Sometimes, they do not go back to where they have started traveling from.
Relation between Migrant & Settled People
The differences
between villagers and nomads? ways of life have frequently ended in
quarreling and at times in dependence upon each other. Nomads could have
been a major threat to villagers and could have been an essential factor
to satisfy their needs.
Migrants, Semi-Migrants & Settled Tribes
Some tribes are
merely tent dwellers and move in search of grazing lands for their herds.
Other tribes are both living in tents and in some specific buildings.
Agriculture is another minor thing they do for their needs. The third
group has gone through previous stages and has settled at last as a result
of decline in traditional cattle herding.
Large & Small Tribes
Large tribes are
known as Turkmen, Shahsavans, Lurs, Bakhtiaries, and Qashqaies. Others are
considered small tribes who had to settle in the past. Many of them have
no other choice than to start migrating again. Of course, they have their
own reasons for this.
Nomads in History
In many cases,
nomads have had key roles in war with enemies. Sometimes, they were united
as an independent army or an auxiliary force. The history of Iran witnesses many
cases of their decisive assistance in defending the country.
The Social Structure of Nomadic Societies
As a unit of social
life, a tribe has many duties to accomplish. A system is needed to connect
a family to the whole tribe. This tribal organization is vital to
integrate a tribe from within itself.
One of the
subdivisions of a tribe is a ?family?. The emotional links functioning
inside and outside the families are links called ?ethnic solidarity?,
which is much stronger than among settled families.
In nomadic
societies, a tribal family with its own definition and functions is
distinguished from what we know, nowadays, as a family in modernized
societies. A tribal family cannot mean anything without a wife and cannot
perform its duties. In such a family, the whole family matters, not every
individual member. This is the survival code of a tribal family.
?Polygamy? is
sometimes seen among tribes. Another wife is another source of assistance
the head of a family needs to manage the broadened responsibilities. Of
course, this is how it is described by tribal men, but there should be
other reasons for this phenomenon too.
Job Description in Nomadic Families
A husband, a wife
and a child are each helping the family course of existence to go on. Even
children have their own job descriptions from childhood that depend on
their sexes. They learn and practice the serious life of being an adult.
Social Structure Classifications
Heads of tribes and
guard heads are the wealthiest. Middle-class people are headmen, elders
and similar ranks. The ordinary people are the majority who live hard
lives.
Each group has its
own different responsibility, property and characteristics. Sometimes, one
can say which class they belong to by looking at the color and appearance
of their tents.
Written By: Rahman
Mehraby |
