Over 300 people have been killed in a week of violent clashes between Syria's Druze minority and Sunni Bedouin tribes in and around the southern city of Sweida.
About Bedouins:
The Bedouins are traditionally nomadic, Arabic-speaking tribes who have inhabited the deserts of the Middle East and North Africa for centuries.
The word Bedouin derives from the Arabic badawi, meaning "desert dweller".
These communities historically survived by herding livestock, primarily camels, sheep, and goats, while navigating seasonal migrations across vast arid landscapes.
These tribes have traditionally been classified according to the animal species that are the basis of their livelihood.
In Syria, Bedouins have primarily lived in the expansive Al-Badia desert, which covers much of the country's south and east, including provinces like Sweida, Homs, and Deir ez-Zor.
Society: Bedouin society is tribal and patriarchal, typically composed of extended families that are patrilineal, endogamous, and polygynous.
The head of the family, as well as of each successively larger social unit making up the tribal structure, is called sheikh; the sheikh is assisted by an informal tribal council of male elders.
Dear Student,
You have still not entered your mailing address. Please enter the address where all the study materials will be sent to you. (If applicable).
