Bedouins, << BEHD u ihnz, >> are Arab people who traditionally have been nomadic herders in the deserts of the Middle East. Almost all of the approximately 1 million Bedouins are Muslims and speak some form of the Arabic language.
The Bedouins who follow their traditional way of life travel the deserts seeking fresh water and pastureland for their camels, goats, and sheep. They live in tents and wear clothing made from the skin and hair of their animals. The Bedouins eat mostly dairy products, dates, and rice. They trade meat and dairy products from their livestock to people in nearby villages for knives, pots, and other manufactured goods.
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The Bedouins are proud and extremely independent. They live by a moral code that emphasizes such values as courage, generosity, and tribal loyalty. Insults to their pride sometimes lead to bloody feuds between tribes.
Since the mid-1900’s, increasing numbers of Bedouins have abandoned their traditional nomadic life. They seek such modern advantages as better health care, education for their children, and jobs with higher incomes. The Bedouins have fewer people with whom to trade because many villagers have moved to urban areas.
Most nations in the Middle East have set up programs to encourage Bedouin settlement. For example, some governments give them land on which they can farm and raise livestock, and others build housing projects for them.
See also Egypt (People); Saudi Arabia (Way of life).
