Yes, Bedouin are both. The term originates from the Arabic badawī, meaning "desert dweller". They are traditionally pastoral nomads and are organized into tribes and clans. [1, 2, 3] A breakdown of the Bedouin way of life clarifies their historical and modern status: [1, 2] The Nomadic Tradition Livestock Herding: Historically, they roamed the vast deserts of the Middle East and North Africa relying on camels, sheep, and goats. [1, 2] Movement: They traditionally migrated into the deeper desert during the wet winter months and moved back toward cultivated farmlands in the dry summer. [1] Shelter: Known culturally as "people of the tent," they historically lived in easily transportable black tents made of woven goat and camel hair. [1, 2, 3, 4] The Tribal Structure Governance: Bedouin society is fundamentally built on extended family units, clans, and larger tribes. Leadership: Tribes are headed by a leader (a sheikh) and governed by an elder council and strict, unwritten customary laws. Values: Tribal loyalty, fierce independence, and extreme hospitality to strangers are the pillars of their cultural identity. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] Modern Realities (Nomadism Today)
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