Rebranding of the Eurasian nomadic civilization: the importance of the experience of historical nomadism in the context of climate change and aridization of the territories of Kazakhstan

Abstract

This article is introducing the ideas of implementing thousands of years old know-hows of the nomadic pastoralists of Kazakhstan to current ecological conditions and challenges of our region. The nomadic pastoralist lifestyle historically has developed in the conditions of arid and semi-arid regions of the Eurasian continent (Eurasian Steppe). This lifestyle was designed and perfected to deal with chronic seasonal droughts and shortages of water. It relied on moving large herds of livestock, mobile architecture and infrastructure, and nomadic technologies. In the modern era, when the cities are overcrowded, while the economy and food security rely mostly on agriculture, vast arid areas of land remain unused, producing zero value both for humanity and the planet Earth. These wastelands were once a thriving ecological system, where the nomadic pastoralism served as an engine for their sustainability. But, once the nomadism was uprooted from those areas, and the population was moved towards urban areas and an agriculture-based economy, they degraded into lifeless deserts. By using the 21^st century’s technologies, architecture, engineering, energy sources, and materials, it is possible to reintroduce the once-vital nomadic pastoral lifestyle into those empty wastelands, turning them once again into vibrant ecological regions.