Basseri of Iran: Past and Present
Basseri of Iran: Past and Present
Jonathan Hixon
ANT101
Instructor Brown-Warren
February 24, 2013
When the Achamenian emperors of ancient Persia built their capital at Persepolis, in a valley of the Zagros, they did so with strategy in mind. Persepolis was placed in a common “bottleneck” in the annual migration routes of several tribes from the warm coastal plains to the cool summer pastures in the north. Twice a year, several whole confederations of tribes had to pass by Persepolis with all of their wealth in sheep, goats, and horses, and he who ruled Persepolis ruled what then was Persia. One of the tribes that still use this route today is the Basseri of Iran. (Coon, 1962) The Basseri of Iran was a nomadic pastoralist society from the beginning of their existence. The Basseri are located in southwest Iran and were housed in tents. Each tent housed a nuclear family and many tents made up a camp for the Basseri. An independent household occupied every tent in a camp. The tents were arranged in groups of smaller groups that usually would put all of their flocks of animals into one unit that was taken care of by one shepherd. A shepherd was usually a younger boy or girl from different tents that took care of the smaller camp’s flocks. Some families would hire a shepherd from other tents if they did not have the means to provide a qualified shepherd of their own. Nomadic pastoralists had no permanent settlements; instead, complete households shift location with the herd. House structures were highly moveable, such as a tent or yurt, a portable, felt-covered, wood lattice-framed dwelling structure used in the steppes of Central Asia among Kazakh and Kirghiz pastoralists. Pastoralists moved for a number of reasons other than following water and forage for their herds. Herders also moved to avoid neighboring peoples and government control, thus reducing disease, insects, and competition for resources, while abstaining from taxation and
Jonathan Hixon
ANT101
Instructor Brown-Warren
February 24, 2013
When the Achamenian emperors of ancient Persia built their capital at Persepolis, in a valley of the Zagros, they did so with strategy in mind. Persepolis was placed in a common “bottleneck” in the annual migration routes of several tribes from the warm coastal plains to the cool summer pastures in the north. Twice a year, several whole confederations of tribes had to pass by Persepolis with all of their wealth in sheep, goats, and horses, and he who ruled Persepolis ruled what then was Persia. One of the tribes that still use this route today is the Basseri of Iran. (Coon, 1962) The Basseri of Iran was a nomadic pastoralist society from the beginning of their existence. The Basseri are located in southwest Iran and were housed in tents. Each tent housed a nuclear family and many tents made up a camp for the Basseri. An independent household occupied every tent in a camp. The tents were arranged in groups of smaller groups that usually would put all of their flocks of animals into one unit that was taken care of by one shepherd. A shepherd was usually a younger boy or girl from different tents that took care of the smaller camp’s flocks. Some families would hire a shepherd from other tents if they did not have the means to provide a qualified shepherd of their own. Nomadic pastoralists had no permanent settlements; instead, complete households shift location with the herd. House structures were highly moveable, such as a tent or yurt, a portable, felt-covered, wood lattice-framed dwelling structure used in the steppes of Central Asia among Kazakh and Kirghiz pastoralists. Pastoralists moved for a number of reasons other than following water and forage for their herds. Herders also moved to avoid neighboring peoples and government control, thus reducing disease, insects, and competition for resources, while abstaining from taxation and
References: Nowak, B. and Laird, P. (2010). Cultural Anthropology. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUANT101.10.2 Johnson, R. “Basseri.” Encyclopedia of World Cultures. 1996. Retrieved January 13, 2013 from Encylopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3458001469.html Dowling, J. (1975). Property Relations and Productive Strategies in Pastoral Societies. American Ethnologist, Volume2(Issue 3), pp.419-426. Retrieved from: http://www.anthrosource.net.proxy-library.ashford.edu/Abstract.aspx?issn=0094-0496&volume=2&issue=3&SuppNo=0&article=278360&jstor=False&cyear=1975 Bradburd, D. (1989). Producing their fates: why poor Basseri settled but poor Komachi and Yomut did not. American Ethnologist, Volume 16 (Issue 3), pp.502-517. Retrieved from: http://www.anthrosource.net.proxy-library.ashford.edu/Abstract.aspx?issn=0094-0496&volume=16&issue=3&SuppNo=0&article=276769&jstor=False&cyear=1989 Coon, C. S. (1962). Nomads of South Persia: The Basseri Tribe of the Khamseh Confederacy. American Ethnologist, Volume 64 (Issue 3), pp.636-638. Retrieved from: http://www.anthrosource.net.proxy-library.ashford.edu/Abstract.aspx?issn=0002-7294&volume=64&issue=3&SuppNo=0&article=283007&jstor=False&cyear=1962