Learning from the History of Nomads Who Live with the Wind: A Lifestyle of "Not Owning"

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Nomads are people who live while moving across vast grasslands and deserts with their livestock.

It is often thought that settling down, building cities, and accumulating houses and goods are the foundations of "civilization," but they have intentionally placed "moving" at the center of their way of life⛺

This time, I have researched the history and roots of nomads, their actual lives, and their "lifestyle of not owning" and multifaceted perspectives🔍

1. Roots of Nomads (Origins and History)

The nomadic lifestyle is said to have originated in the central part of the Eurasian continent (Central Asia to the Mongolian Plateau) around 1000 BC (about 3000 years ago).

People until then had been "hunter-gatherers" or "settled farmers," but in regions unsuitable for farming due to low rainfall and aridity, people created a groundbreaking innovation.
"Domestication of animals and horseback riding".

Raising livestock🐏
They learned to domesticate wild sheep, goats, and horses, and to move with them in search of grass.

Horse riding skills🐎
They developed the technology for humans to ride horses and manage vast herds.

They became able to manage areas far wider than they could by walking themselves, and powerful nomadic states such as the "Scythians," the "Xiongnu," and later the "Mongol Empire" appeared in history🤔

They were not merely "wandering people," but were also the bearers of a major network that supported the trade routes (Silk Road) connecting the East and West of the Eurasian continent.

2. Nomadic Migration Periods (At what pace do they move?)

I wondered, "Do they move every day without rest?" but in reality, they perform"regular migration according to the seasons".
*This is called "seasonal migration."

Generally, they move four times a year (spring, summer, autumn, winter),
or at a pace of 2-3 times a year.

Spring
Birthing season. Moving to warm places that avoid the wind.

Summer
Moving to cool highlands with abundant grass, water sources, and good ventilation. A time to fatten up the livestock.

Autumn
Preparation for winter. Storing meat and dairy products from livestock.

Winter
Moving to safe places such as the lee side of mountains or valleys that can block heavy snow and freezing winds (they often return to the same place every year).

The distance moved per trip depends on the region, but it ranges from several tens of kilometers to sometimes over 100 km.
The movement itself takes several days to a week, and for the rest of the time, they stay and live in the same place for several months.

3. Actual Daily Life

The nomadic lifestyle is filled with a refined, functional beauty that is free of waste.

1. Housing: Portable, modular dwellings
They use homes like the Mongolian 'ger' (known as a 'yurt' in China) that can be dismantled and assembled in a few hours. They are made of wooden frames and sheep's wool felt, and were traditionally moved with the help of camels or horses.

2. Diet: 'White food' and 'red food'
There is wisdom in clearly dividing their diet according to the season.

Summer (white food)
Focusing on dairy products (such as fermented mare's milk, cheese, and yogurt) to give the digestive system a rest.

Winter (red food)
Focusing on meat (sheep or cattle) to provide the energy needed to survive the harsh cold.

3. The spirit of mutual aid (hospitality)
Because they live in such harsh natural environments, a strong culture of hospitality has taken root, where 'travelers in need are unconditionally given shelter and food.'

4. Modern nomads

They still exist all over the world today.

There are people who still carry on these traditions, such as the Mongols, the peoples of Central Asia, the Bedouin of the Middle East, and the Tuareg of Africa.

However, their lives have changed into a hybrid form that integrates 'modern technology' 🤔

Means of transport
They chase their livestock not only on horseback, but also using trucks and motorcycles.

Energy
They install solar panels on their gers to power smartphones and televisions.

Communication
They use satellite internet to check livestock market prices and utilize social media.

Modern nomads are living by flexibly incorporating convenient technology while still protecting their traditions!

5. A 'non-possessive' way of life and 'flexible thinking' learned from nomads

A 'non-possessive' way of life
I think that modern people, myself included, tend to place value on 'buying houses, buying things, and owning them.'

However, nomads carry as little as possible that would 'hinder their movement.' Their household goods are kept to a minimum, and they even fold up and carry their homes.

Personally, I wondered if, for them, wealth is not 'owning things' but rather 'the flexibility and freedom to adapt to a changing nature'? 🤔 The more things you own, the heavier your journey becomes, the more attachment is created, and the slower your response to change becomes... 😓

A 'multi-faceted perspective' that does not cling to a single set of values
Furthermore, because they travel across various lands without settling down, they also possess a 'breadth of perspective and values.'

People who stay in one place tend to inevitably assume that 'the rules and common sense of their own village' are absolute.
However, nomads, who repeat their travels, come into contact with people who have different climates, different languages, and different religions wherever they go.

That is precisely why they possessed the flexibility to naturally accept the premise that 'there are diverse ways of living and thinking in the world'☝️

In fact, it is said that historical entities like the Mongol Empire did not exclude any religions, such as Christianity, Buddhism, or Islam, but instead had an aspect of respecting and accepting each culture!
A nomadic way of life had the effect of fostering 'flexible thinking' that was free from prejudice and fixation.

In a modern society overflowing with material goods and often bound by the atmosphere of specific communities, the reason 'minimalism' and 'nomad work' are attracting attention may be because people are drawn to that style of letting go of ownership and living lightly with a broad perspective like nomads do👍

6. Summary

The history of nomads is not just a record of the past, but a perfected way of life centered on 'living flexibly in accordance with the environment.'

Not being bound by the ownership of things, not being trapped by a single set of values, and moving without fear of change.

Because we live in a modern society where change is rapid and the future is difficult to predict, the mindset of 'living with a light heart and a broad perspective' may provide hints that can make our worries feel lighter and easier to manage!

Thank you very much for reading until the end🙏