Bedouin facts for kids
Bedouin wedding procession in the Jerusalem section of the Pike at the 1904 World's Fair
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Quick facts for kids Total population |
|
|---|---|
| 4,000,000–25,000,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Syria |
1,800,000 |
 Saudi Arabia |
635,000 (1978) |
 Jordan |
380,000 (2007) |
 Egypt |
50,000 (2003)–380,000 (2007) |
 Israel |
250,000 (2012) |
 Algeria |
230,000 |
 Iraq |
100,000 |
 Palestine |
30,000 |
| Languages | |
| Arabic dialects (Bedawi • Hassāniyya • Bedouin Hejazi • Bedouin Najdi • Omani) | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Islam Minority Christianity |
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| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Arabs | |
Bedouins are an Arab ethnocultural group. They are descended from nomads who lived in the Arabian, Syrian and Saharan Deserts.
They call themselves the people of the tent, because they travelled around, living in tents. Bedouin were camel raisers and drivers, sheep and goat nomads, cattle driving nomads, and merchants.
While many Bedouins have abandoned their nomadic and tribal traditions for a modern urban lifestyle, many retain traditional Bedouin culture such as retaining the traditional ʿašāʾir clan structure, traditional music, poetry, dances (such as saas), and many other cultural practices and concepts. Urbanized Bedouins often organise cultural festivals, usually held several times a year, in which they gather with other Bedouins to partake in and learn about various Bedouin traditions—from poetry recitation and traditional sword dances to playing traditional instruments and even classes teaching traditional tent knitting. Traditions like camel riding and camping in the deserts are still popular leisure activities for urban Bedouins who live in close proximity to deserts or other wilderness areas.
Traditions
Herding
Livestock and herding, principally of goats, sheep and dromedary camels comprised the traditional livelihoods of Bedouins. These were used for meat, dairy products, and wool. Most of the staple foods that made up the Bedouins' diet were dairy products.
Camels, in particular, had numerous cultural and functional uses. Having been regarded as a "gift from God", they were the main food source and method of transportation for many Bedouins. In addition to their extraordinary milking potentials under harsh desert conditions, their meat was occasionally consumed by Bedouins. As a cultural tradition, camel races were organized during celebratory occasions, such as weddings or religious festivals.
Some Bedouin societies live in arid regions. In areas where rainfall is very unpredictable, a camp will be moved irregularly, depending on the availability of green pasture. Where winter rainfall is more predictable in regions further south, some Bedouin people plant grain along their migration routes. This proves a resource for the livestock throughout the winter. In regions such as western Africa, where there is more predictable rainfall, the Bedouin practice transhumance. They plant crops near permanent homes in the valleys where there is more rain and move their livestock to the highland pastures.
Oral poetry
Oral poetry was the most popular art form among Bedouins. Having a poet in one's tribe was highly regarded in society. In addition to serving as a form of art, poetry was used as a means of conveying information and social control.
Raiding or ghazw
The well-regulated traditional habit of Bedouin tribes of raiding other tribes, caravans, or settlements is known in Arabic as ghazw.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Bedouins in Sinai, 1967
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A Bedouin warrior, pictured between 1898 and 1914
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Weaving lengths of fabric for tent making using ground loom. Palestine, c. 1900
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Arab Christian Bedouin woman from the settled town of Kerak, Jordan, who probably was the wife of a sheikh. Braids were predominantly worn by Arab Christian Bedouin women of the tribes of Jordan.
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Palestine Exploration Fund list of Bedouin tribes living West of the River Jordan in 1875.
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Bedouin man in Riyadh, 1964.
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Syrian bedouin, 1893
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Bedouin encampment in the Negev Desert
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Bedouin soldiers in Israel Defense Forces.
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Three bedouin sheikhs, c. 1867-1876
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A young Bedouin lighting a camp fire in Wadi Rum, Jordan
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Bedouins making bread in Egypt.
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Map of the Bedouin tribes in 1908
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Bedouin shepherd in Syrian Desert
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Galilee 1911
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Bedouin women smoking, Galilee, 1935
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Grinding corn & bread making 1935
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Weaving on ground loom 1930
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Ploughing (Negev) 1920
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Coffee 1920
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Musicians 1935
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Palestinian bedouin 1930
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Bedouin woman, Beit She'an 1920
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Bedouin, Beit She'an, 1920
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See also
In Spanish: Beduinos para niños
