Pastoralism

Pastoralism, term used to describe an economy based predominantly on the herding of animals, such as cattle, goats, sheep, and camels. Pastoral societies are most common in Central and Southwest Asia, and East Africa. Among the best-known pastoral societies are the Basseri of southern Iran and the Masai of East Africa. However, pastoral societies exist as far north as the Arctic Circle. The Saami people herd reindeer in the northernmost parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and western Russia.

Pastoralism is particularly well suited to life in harsh environments, such as arid grasslands and semideserts. In these areas poor soil will not sustain an agricultural economy, but the vegetation can be used for animal husbandry. The herds produce dairy foods, blood, meat, wool, hides, and dung, which is used for fuel. Pastoralists are often nomadic or seminomadic, because their movements are dictated to a great extent by the needs of their animals. Many pastoralists migrate seasonally in search of pastures, a practice known as transhumance. The Basseri, a transhumant society, move to the highlands in summer and the lowlands in winter. Most pastoral societies supplement their herding activities with some type of farming and trading. When necessary, some pastoralists live for periods of time with their agricultural neighbors.

Like other nomadic peoples, pastoralists tend to place less emphasis on material goods than settled societies do, and thus their technology is often limited. However, pastoralist cultures are often rich with myth and ritual. Because livestock provides wealth and social status, it is given great spiritual and social significance. Pastoral societies usually consist of hierarchical chiefdoms. The immediate family serves as the basic social and economic unit. A male elder serves as the head of each household, and descent is traced through the male line. During fertile periods when food and animal forage is plentiful, large numbers of families congregate together. These larger groups often disperse into smaller units when food is scarce or during times of migration.

Since the beginning of Western colonialism, many governments have attempted to settle pastoral peoples into an agricultural economy, often considered to be more “civilized” than pastoralism. Such projects have frequently failed. Pastoralism is the only possible way of life in certain environments. Some economic development experts have suggested that traditional pastoralist animal husbandry could be adapted to fit into the modern livestock industry.