NOMADS IN THE CLASSICAL AND BYZANTINE NEAR EAST

Mobile pastoralism in classical times in the Near East is a well-developed phenomenon, incorporating the basic domesticates of modern pastoral nomads in the region, including camels, goats, sheep, horses, and donkeys. Residential mobility in peripheral environments to exploit seasonally available resources (water, grazing) to support herds and distant markets structure the yearly cycle. Tribal organization characterizes most of these groups, although tribes and tribal confederations occasionally achieved large sizes, posing threats to sedentary states. Ancient texts (rock inscriptions and literary/economic accounts), archaeology, and modern ethnography (through analogy) are the primary sources for understanding nomadism in classical times. These sources are uneven geographically and must be approached critically. Although little tapped, they offer great potential for further research, and constitute a crucial counterbalance to modern stereotypes.