Technology and economy

In his book Nomads of South Persia, Frederik Barth (1967) descibes the social, political and frugal structure of the Basseri tribal group. This essay aims to summarize the details on the environ custodyt, technology, shelter, transportation, economy, and diffusion and consumption of goods and services of the Basseri kinsperson as explicated by Barth (1961).First of all, the Basseri tribe of the Khamseh coalition occupies the region from the Persian Gulf to the desert ranges of Lar. The climate in these beas is white-hot and dry. However, during winter it is cold in the highlands while it is slightly cold in the grasslands. There ar four chastens of the year such as winter, spring, summer, and advert in this part of the world.The geographical structure of the land is mountainous from 2,000 to 3, 000 feet to a higher place sea level and its mountains are as high as 13, 000 feet. pee in this area comes from rainfall. The amount of rainfall is higher during the winter oppo sed the amount of rainfall during spring. This water ca gives vegetation such as scraping cane, dates, fruits and vegetables to grow. These foods together with flour are consumed by the Basseri flock.As nomads, the Basseri tribe raises animals such as sheep, goats, donkeys, camels and horses. This animal husbandry causes them to move from one place to another base on the needs of their animals. These animals have varied uses for the tribe. Goats and sheep are useful to the Basseri nation for their milk, perfume, wool and skin. On the other hand, camels, horses and donkeys are used for transportation specially during the time of migration. In addition to this, camels share a part of the tribes cultivatece of wool.Even when the Baserri ethnic group is nomadic, it uses technology in the phase angle of its tools and systems. One system is in making butter and buttermilk out of sour milk. This process is do by storing milk in a goatskin determined on a tripod to churn milk into sour milk. Next is the use of wool in weaving and making of ropes. Another is when wool is processed by go around it on spindle whorl. Lastly, a technology they give in continuously producing healthy milk is by placing a picayune stick through the mouth of a lamb to press belt down its tongue and is stuck in place with stings (Barth, 1961, 7).Likewise, the Basseri people live in tents which are considered the basic social and economic unit of the tribe. The tents are well-made and are woven out of wool. Tents are usually made when a creation and a woman gets married. The mothers of the couple are the ones who weave the tent. Then, the couple begins their lives as a separate unit when they live in the tent.In addition, the Basseri use donkeys, horses and camels for transportation. Donkeys are used to carry women and children. Horses are ridden by men. Camels transport heavy objects or things. Consequently, when it is time for the Basseri to move out from one location to anothe r, they use animals as means of transportation. These animals are the camels, horses and donkeys. When they migrate, the family members ride on the donkeys, camels or horses which are already laden with the familys belongings while one family member walks by foot in order to guide their herd of animals. Barth (1961) does not intimate about the Basseri tribe travelling on water maybe because they are basically land-based.Furthermore, the Basseris economy is based on their cyclical migratory patterns. They are known to be pastoralists for they move to the high lands during the summer season and they transfer to the plains during the winter season due to the presence or absence seizure of pasture that their animals need (Microsoft Student). As previously mentioned, they raise sheep, goats, camels, donkeys and horses which are done by the male members of the tribe.The women, alternatively, are the ones who plant vegetation. The division of labor in the tribe is grounded on the age and sex of the person. However, there are authorized tasks which are stereotypical to gender. Domestic work in the form of base chores is the task only for the girls and women of the tribe. These tasks may be preparing food, washing dishes, washing clothes, spinning wool and weaving tents. On the other side, boys and men are principally assigned to provide water and wool, and to repair damaged equipment and tents. They also pale over the herd and they lead their animals and their family when migrating. They might be allowed to help order food, or wash clothes but are not allowed to enter in spinning or weaving.Just like any economic system, the people of the tribe distribute goods and services within its constituents. It employs a system of reciprocality where everyone works and contributes for the mutual benefit of everyone in the tribe. The distribution of goods and services homogeneous to the division of labor starts within each household. In the family, each member, dependin g on the gender, has a task to accomplish and this task has an implication to economy. For example, when women or men milk the sheep, there is an effect to their economy or when the men guess after the herd. There is also distribution of goods or services to outsiders as they trade off externally to other tribes and other markets. They also purchase or trade clothing materials, ready-made clothing and footwear, cooking tools, and scum (Barth, 1961, 9-10).Finally, the Basseri ethnic group is an egalitarian society because they do not endue emphasis on material goods or riches especially that they do not have a permanent place to stay. Their concept of wealth and property is focused on the livestock that a family possesses. They consume the meat of sheep and chicken and milk from the sheep.To sum it up, the Basseri tribal people dwell in areas where their animals can find pasture and they move out when this is no overnight available. They have their own economic system and they use low technology. They are also not too concerned about their economic condition due to their migratory life.ReferencesBarth, F. (1961). Nomads of South Persia. Waveland Press Long Grove, IL.Pastoralism. (2007). Microsoft Student 2008 DVD. Redmond, WA Microsoft Corporation.