Glossary · Term

Pastoralism

Also known as pastoral

Pastoralism is a way of life based on herding livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, horses and camels, often involving seasonal movement between pastures. It was the economic foundation of steppe empires such as the Xiongnu Empire, the Mongol Empire and the Chagatai Empire. In Africa, pastoral peoples supplied wealth and soldiers to states including the Adal Sultanate and the Wadai Empire.

Mentioned in 19 profiles

Adal SultanateFoundation, Socioeconomy, Governance, DeclineAlmohad CaliphateSocioeconomyAlmoravid EmpireSocioeconomyChagatai EmpireFoundation, Governance, SummaryGokturk EmpireSocioeconomyIlkhanateSocioeconomyJolof EmpireSocioeconomyKanem-Bornu EmpireSocioeconomyKhazar KhaganateSocioeconomyMedian EmpireSocioeconomyMongol EmpireSocioeconomyOyo EmpireSocioeconomyParthian EmpireSocioeconomyRashidun CaliphateSocioeconomySeleucid EmpireSocioeconomySeljuk EmpireSocioeconomyWadai EmpireSocioeconomy, SummaryXiongnu EmpireSocioeconomyNumidiaSocioeconomy

Mentioned in 4 state histories

CerretaniKingdom of EpirusWarsangali SultanateSangri State

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Pastoralism. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/pastoralism
MLA
“Pastoralism.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/pastoralism. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Pastoralism.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/pastoralism.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Pastoralism’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/pastoralism (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻