The Age of the Nomad

The OTTOMANS, the MAMLUKS, and the MING HIST 1301 | History The Age of the Nomad Some nomadic tribes met their demise when populations in Europe, Asia, and Africa began to use firearms. Historically, nomadic civilizations have been significant players in world history and catalysts for historical change for centuries prior to today. For example, the entrance of mounted Indo-Europeans in 1500 BCE changed life on the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism was developed on the foundation of the IndoEuropean holy writings, the Vedas, and its social structure, which gave rise to the caste system. Their language, Sanskrit, was adopted by Buddhism and Hinduism as its sacred speech. The central Asian nomadic tribes initiated shifts that ultimately led to the demise of the Roman Empire. The Huns, who ruled over central Asia, the Caucasus, and eastern Europe, started to advance westward in the fourth and fifth century CE, assaulting and subduing Germanic tribes that resided on the frontiers of the Roman Empire. Before their incursion into Roman territory, these tribes—the Visigoths, the Goths, and others—flew away, upending the empire. Mounted nomads in East Asia influenced Chinese society in a similar way. Numerous tribes, including the Jurchen and Xiongnu, alternately assaulted and traded with Han Chinese communities over the ages. Building of a wall to keep the wandering horsemen out of China's more populated regions started during the Qin dynasty (c. 221 BCE). When this failed, Chinese emperors offered tribute in the form of gifts and Chinese princesses to appease more aggressive tribes, demonstrating that the status of women was completely subordinated to the agency and needs of men, even those from high social standing. This was because the wall was only built along portions of the border between the lands occupied by nomadic tribes and those settled by the Chinese. A growing number of nomadic civilizations started to settle down in the early modern era. The ongoing existence of nomadic civilizations was certainly threatened by established societies' use of guns. Mounted archers were unable to compete as weapons technology advanced, allowing cannons and artillery to shoot quicker and further. Still, this does not account for the whole demise of the nomadic lifestyle. Even though early guns were heavy and difficult to shoot while mounted, nomads may have embraced them if they had been lighter, and some nomadic communities—like the Plains Indians of North America—did. Not every nomad was a horse-riding warrior. The Huns and the Xiongnu who tormented the Han Empire were also Mongols and Arab Bedouins. Still, a large number of nomadic peoples did not build armies or ride horses. Traditionally, the Gaddi shepherds of the Himalaya and the Sami reindeer herders of Scandinavia and Russia were not soldiers. Moreover, settled cultures fielded mounted troops, such as those in Europe. The widespread use of gunpowder and guns during the Middle Ages led to the disappearance of the European knights. Additionally, it took several centuries following the invention of weapons for mounted soldiers to be excluded from military forces worldwide. European and U.S. fighters in World War I made use of cavalry. Therefore, it may be more accurate to state that gunpowder rendered cavalry—aside from contemporary "cavalry" in the shape of tanks— obsolete rather than that it caused the extinction of nomads. Lastly, although mounted warriors are extinct now, nomadic civilizations continue to exist across the world despite their considerably lesser numbers. For instance, a large number of Arab Bedouin and Mongols nowadays still live nomadic lifestyles. Many nomads were forced to adjust to shifting military, political, and social realities as a result of the proliferation of guns, which in turn caused many to gravitate towards sedentarization. Guns, however, were not the reason nomadic communities decreased; rather, they were only the instrument by which certain contemporary nations imposed their will on nomads. Modern governments waged war against nomads for a variety of reasons. People who were established frequently dreaded nomads, particularly those who attacked them or fought against them for natural resources. For instance, the established population of the Plains Indians of North America not only feared the mounted warriors but also desired the territory they inhabited. The settlers— farmers, ranchers, and miners—could not make full use of the natural riches of the American West as long as the Plains tribes claimed vast areas for hunting. Nomads freely moving from one nation into another were likewise frowned upon by contemporary nation-states with demarcated borders. They compelled nomads to settle because they believed they posed a threat to national security and sovereignty. It was also simpler for modern nation-states to impose taxes on individuals who were not constantly moving. The meadows and water sources that nomads relied on for their herds were threatened by the industrialization of nations. Enclosed areas were walled off. Water supplies were contaminated. Animals owned by commercial livestock interests roamed on grasslands, producing meat that fed city people. With the increasing comforts of settled life brought about by industrialization, many nomads voluntarily gave up their old lifestyle. The twentieth and twenty-first centuries have seen an increase in the difficulty of living as a nomad due to climate change. Grasslands and animal water supplies are at danger due to droughts and more extreme weather. For pastoralists who live on the move, a lack of grass is lethal. During the Battle of Ain Jalut, Mamluk Sultanate warriors employed the first cannons. But it wasn't what won them the victory. They were up against a far smaller Mongol force than they often encountered. The dry environment of the Levant could not produce enough hay for the thousands of horses (five or six per person) that Mongol troops went with, which compelled the Mongols to raise a smaller army. Now, more nomad homelands are undergoing dryness and extreme winter temperatures, and this may be the ultimate blow for the world’s few remaining nomadic cultures.