PastoralistsPastoralists

Tribes into Chiefdoms?Tribes into Chiefdoms?

Pastoralism or HerdingPastoralism or Herding

• DefinitionDefinition• Animal husbandry as the main or sole Animal husbandry as the main or sole

source of subsistencesource of subsistence• Animals: cattle, horses, sheep, goats, Animals: cattle, horses, sheep, goats,

camelscamels• All parts of animal is consumedAll parts of animal is consumed• Meat and dairy products, bloodMeat and dairy products, blood• HidesHides• Even dung for fire and building materialEven dung for fire and building material

Pastoralism: Primary Pastoralism: Primary CharacteristicsCharacteristics

• Environment: semi-arid grasslands; other Environment: semi-arid grasslands; other regions unsuitable for agricultureregions unsuitable for agriculture

• Nomadic:Nomadic:• Transhumance: seasonal migration Transhumance: seasonal migration

between different environmental zones.between different environmental zones.• Property and valuables are portableProperty and valuables are portable• Dependence on settled communitiesDependence on settled communities• Agriculture and manufactured productsAgriculture and manufactured products• Mixed economy lessens dependenceMixed economy lessens dependence

Pastoralism: Secondary Pastoralism: Secondary CharacteristicsCharacteristics

• WarfareWarfare• Raid of villages or other nomadsRaid of villages or other nomads• Predatory states: MongolsPredatory states: Mongols• Warrior age grades in East AfricaWarrior age grades in East Africa• Male dominanceMale dominance• Warfare required male cooperationWarfare required male cooperation• Animals are male propertyAnimals are male property• Residence is patrilocalResidence is patrilocal• Women have few rightsWomen have few rights

Pastoralists: A ProfilePastoralists: A Profile• Pastoralists range in complexityPastoralists range in complexity• At one end of the scale are the TurkanaAt one end of the scale are the Turkana• They have no age sets or gradesThey have no age sets or grades• Their units are loosely allied, reflecting a Their units are loosely allied, reflecting a

stingy environmentstingy environment• Middle range: the MasaiMiddle range: the Masai• They have age grades and sets, and there They have age grades and sets, and there

are wealth differencesare wealth differences• Upper range: the Kirghiz and other Upper range: the Kirghiz and other

MongolsMongols• They have wealthy chiefs and a feudal-They have wealthy chiefs and a feudal-

like system of animal herdinglike system of animal herding

Level of Integration: Tribe Level of Integration: Tribe or Chiefdom?or Chiefdom?

• Some pastoralists are tribal, such as the Some pastoralists are tribal, such as the TurkanaTurkana

• Others show incipient wealth differences, Others show incipient wealth differences, such as the Masaisuch as the Masai

• Still others are chiefdoms, such as the Still others are chiefdoms, such as the Rwala Bedouin of the Middle EastRwala Bedouin of the Middle East

• Mongols formed chiefdoms, then Mongols formed chiefdoms, then eventually became stateseventually became states

• Classic example: Genghis Khan, also Classic example: Genghis Khan, also known as (more accurately) Chinghis known as (more accurately) Chinghis Kahn. Kahn.

Is Pastoralism a Transition Is Pastoralism a Transition from Foraging to from Foraging to

Agriculture?Agriculture?• Ideally, pastoralists herd animals onlyIdeally, pastoralists herd animals only• In actuality, many cultures combine In actuality, many cultures combine

animal husbandry with agricultureanimal husbandry with agriculture• Archaeological evidence indicates Archaeological evidence indicates

pastoralism arose pastoralism arose after after the rise of the rise of settled communities and civilizationsettled communities and civilization

• A more likely scenario: herders A more likely scenario: herders abandoned civilized societies, either abandoned civilized societies, either on their own or by forceon their own or by force

Influence of PastoralistsInfluence of Pastoralists

• Europe and China both faced the invasions Europe and China both faced the invasions of pastoral populationsof pastoral populations

• We all know of Attila the Hun, who invaded We all know of Attila the Hun, who invaded Europe during the Dark Ages Europe during the Dark Ages

• Later, Chinghis Khan invaded both China in Later, Chinghis Khan invaded both China in the east and the Muslim empires of the the east and the Muslim empires of the Middle EastMiddle East

• The Manchu Dynasty was Mongol in originThe Manchu Dynasty was Mongol in origin• Turkey, and the states of Central Asia, Turkey, and the states of Central Asia,

arose from the Turkic peoples of Mongol arose from the Turkic peoples of Mongol derivationderivation

Tribal Herders: Case Tribal Herders: Case StudiesStudies• In this section, you may compare In this section, you may compare

two East African cultures:two East African cultures:• Turkana (light pink, NW) and Turkana (light pink, NW) and • Masai (dark pink, SW)Masai (dark pink, SW)• Both are located in Kenya (map)Both are located in Kenya (map)• Or you may focus on the Or you may focus on the

Mongols of Central AsiaMongols of Central Asia• Which include a contemporary Which include a contemporary

chiefdom, the Kirghiz of chiefdom, the Kirghiz of AfghanistanAfghanistan

• The Kirghiz are located at the The Kirghiz are located at the northeastern tip of Afghanistan northeastern tip of Afghanistan (black)(black)

• Other Mongol groups are Other Mongol groups are located north: Uzbeks, Turkmen, located north: Uzbeks, Turkmen, etc. etc.

Pastoralism: ConclusionPastoralism: Conclusion

• Incomplete food producers; they herd large Incomplete food producers; they herd large animals but do not cultivate cropsanimals but do not cultivate crops

• Animals, not plants, are domesticatedAnimals, not plants, are domesticated• Pastoralists tend to be warlike and raid each Pastoralists tend to be warlike and raid each

others’ herds others’ herds • For this reason, male cooperation is essentialFor this reason, male cooperation is essential• Most are patrilineal and patrilocal societiesMost are patrilineal and patrilocal societies• Pastoralism as an ideal type most likely Pastoralism as an ideal type most likely

followed the formation of civilizations. followed the formation of civilizations. • Instructions: compare your case study to this Instructions: compare your case study to this

ideal typeideal type