Nomadic people
are communities of people who move from one place to another, rather than
settling permanently in one location. There are an estimated 30-40 million
nomads in the world. Many cultures have traditionally been nomadic, but
traditional nomadic behavior is increasingly rare in industrialized countries.
By 1920 nomadic pastoral tribes were over a quarter of Iran's population.
Tribal pastures were nationalized during the 1960s. The National Commission of
UNESCO registered the population of Iran at 21 million in 1963, of whom two
million (9.5%) were nomads. Although the nomadic population of Iran has
dramatically decreased in the 20th century, Iran still has one of the largest
nomadic populations in the world, an estimated 1.5 million in a country of about
70 million.
But the modern age is also invading the culture of nomads and eroding it slowly. As these photos show,
nomads life is increasingly being influenced by technology and consumerism. Some
nomads now use modern appliances for heating and cooking, trucks for hauling
cargo and bicycles for children. They've also turned to satellite TV for
entertainment instead of engaging in the traditional storytelling.
metal replacing leather
