Bedouins

Bedouins are nomads who inhabit the Middle East and North Africa. Bedouin is an Arabic word that means “desert dweller.” Like the plants and animals, the Bedouins have adapted the lifestyle to the severe desert climate. They use their extensive knowledge of the location of water and seasonal weather changes to survive.

Traditionally, Bedouins avoid farming or any kind of settled life. They prefer to herd animals such as camels, sheep, and goats. Bedouins generally travel in extended family units headed by a sheik, a position handed down from father to eldest son. They generally live in tents so they can move easily. As oil wealth and strong government evolved in the Middle East and North Africa, many Bedouins have given up their traditional lifestyle and settled on the outskirts of villages.

Almost all Bedouins are Muslims who speak Arabic. Bedouins constitute a small minority of the population of the Middle East and North Africa, but they live across a wide area of land.