Nomadic people facts for kids
Nomadic people (or nomads) are groups of people who do not live in one permanent place. Instead, they move from one location to another. This way of life has been common for thousands of years.
In Europe, some well-known nomadic groups include the Roma, Sinti, and Irish Travelers. Around the world, many other groups are traditionally nomadic. These include the Berbers, Kazakhs, and Bedouin.
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Why Do People Live as Nomads?
People become nomads for different reasons. Many nomads move to find food and water for their animals. They herd livestock like cattle or horses from one pasture (grassy area) to another. These groups often move because of the weather or changing seasons.
Other nomads travel to trade goods or use their skills where they are needed. They might be traders who buy and sell items. Or they could be craftsmen who make things like tools or jewelry. They move around to find new customers or places to work.
How Do Nomads Live?
Nomads who follow their animal herds often live in tents. These tents are easy to set up and take down. They usually have only a few things inside, making them light to carry. The Mongol people, for example, traditionally lived in large, round tents called yurts.
Nomads who trade or make crafts often travel in wagons. Wagons are useful for carrying goods and tools. They can also serve as a home on wheels.
Examples of Nomadic Groups
The Sami People
The Sami are a group of people who live in Lapland, a region in northern Europe. They are a semi-nomadic group. This means they do not move all the time, but they do follow a regular path.
The Sami traditionally herd reindeer. They lead their reindeer to different feeding grounds depending on the season. In winter, they move to areas where the reindeer can find food. In spring, they return to areas closer to their main homes. This cycle repeats every year.
Nomads and Warfare
The skills of nomadic life can also be useful in warfare. Moving quickly and living off the land helped some groups become strong fighters. They could attack settled people who lived in towns or farms.
A famous example is Genghis Khan and the Mongol hordes. They were skilled horse riders and organized their armies as cavalry (soldiers on horseback). This allowed them to conquer huge areas in Asia.
Images for kids
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A painting by Vincent van Gogh depicting a caravan of nomadic Romani
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Romani mother and child
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Rider in Mongolia, 2012s. While nomadic life is less common in modern times, the horse remains a national symbol in Mongolia.
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Cuman nomads, Radziwiłł Chronicle, 13th century.
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An 1848 Lithograph showing nomads in Afghanistan.
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Tents of Pashtun nomads in Badghis Province, Afghanistan. They migrate from region to region depending on the season.
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A tent of Romani nomads in Hungary, 19th century.
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Nomad camp near Tingri, Tibet. 1993
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Snake charmer from Telungu community of Sri Lanka.
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A Scythian horseman from the general area of the Ili river, Pazyryk, c. 300 BCE.
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Yeniche people in the 15th century
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Kyrgyz nomads in the steppes of the Russian Empire, now Uzbekistan, by pioneer color photographer Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky, c. 1910.
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Tuareg in Mali, 1974.
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Kyrgyz nomads, 1869–1870.
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Nomads in the Desert (Giulio Rosati).
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Gros Ventre (Atsina) American Indians moving camps with travois for transporting skin lodges and belongings.
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House barge of the Sama-Bajau peoples, Indonesia. 1914–1921
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Photograph of Bedouins (wandering Arabs) of Tunisia, 1899
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Indian nomads painting by well-known artiste Raja Ravi Varma
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Indian nomad Banjara
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See also
In Spanish: Nómada para niños
