NCERT Book Class 9 Social Science (History) Chapter 5 Pastoralists In The Modern World

Chapter V
Pastoralists in the Modern World
World

in the Modern World
Fig.1 – Sheep grazing on the Bugyals of eastern Garhwal.
Bugyals are vast natural pastures on the high mountains, above 12,000 feet. They are under snow in the winter and
come to life after April. At this time the entire mountainside is covered with a variety of grasses, roots and herbs.
By monsoon, these pastures are thick with vegetation and carpeted with wild flowers.

In this chapter you will read about nomadic pastoralists. Nomads
are people who do not live in one place but move from one area to
another to earn their living. In many parts of India we can see nomadic
pastoralists on the move with their herds of goats and sheep, or
camels and cattle. Have you ever wondered where they are coming
from and where they are headed? Do you know how they live and
earn? What their past has been? Pastoralists in the Modern World
Pastoralists rarely enter the pages of history textbooks. When you
read about the economy – whether in your classes of history or
Pastoralists

economics – you learn about agriculture and industry. Sometimes
you read about artisans; but rarely about pastoralists. As if their
lives do not matter. As if they are figures from the past who have no
place in modern society.

In this chapter you will see how pastoralism has been important in
societies like India and Africa. You will read about the way
colonialism impacted their lives, and how they have coped with the
pressures of modern society. The chapter will first focus on India
and then Africa.
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