Basseri

The Basseri (Persian: باسری or باصری‎) are a Persian nomadic and pastoral tribe of the Fars Province in Iran. They have formerly been part of the so-called Khamseh confederation which includes Persian- Turkic- and Arabic-speaking tribes. Their migratory area is around Shiraz. The "tent" is the basic unit of social organization among the Basseri. All tents have a recognized head that deals with the formal officers of the tribe, villagers, and other strangers. The Basseri economy stems mainly from sheep and goats.

Basseries' map in Iran
Basseri
Basseri kids in Naqsh-e Rostam
Total population
72,000[1]
Regions with significant populations
Fars Province
Languages
Basseri dialect of Persian
Religion
Shia islam
Related ethnic groups
Bakhtiari

Origin

Basseries are mostly Persians. Their origin is the "Pasargadean" tribe. The Pasargadean tribe was the biggest tribe of Persia and the tribe who helped Cyrus The Great constitute the Achaemenid Empire. They named "Karian" tribe in Sasanian Empire period. They were the rulers of some parts of south Persia and the Karyan city of Persia cause They helped Ardashir I constitute the Sasanian empire.

After Muslim conquest of Persia they were under rule of Arabic Tribes of South Persia, who migrated to Persia after its conquest, till the constitute of Zand Dynasty by Karim Khan. In Pahlavi Dynasty period they were settled by the government in 1930 and again started to decamp in 1941. After the Land Reformations of Iran, they were settled in the cities and the villages of Fars Province; but after some years, they again started decamping. After the Islamic Revolution of Iran because of the problems of being nomad including inaccessibility to modern facilities (hospitals, schools, etc.), successive droughts, destruction of the migration pathm they again went to cities and the villages of the province for living.[2]

Etymology

The word "Basseri" was originally "Wastaryoshan", the commoners of Sasanian Empire period.[3][4] A compound of "Wastary" and the "osh" suffix, the "W" phoneme in ”Wastary” was changed to "B" and the "T" phoneme was removed as it was easier to pronounce, therefore the word shifted to “Basseri”.[5]

Religion

Basseries are Shia Muslims, They became Muslims after the Arabs invaded Iran in the 7th century CE. They converted to Shi'ism following the Safavid invasion in the 16th century CE. Previously, Basseries were Zoroastrians like the majority of Persians, before the arrival of Islam in the region. [6]

The Basseries aren’t devout in their practice of Islam. Basseries prioritize life cycle ceremonies over core Islamic practices like Ramadan and Moharram.[7]

Language
Main article: Basseri dialect

The Basseri speak Basseri dialect, a dialect of Persian with many Old Persian words not found in modern Persian. The majority know only the Basseri dialect, but some know English too.[8][9]

Some words in Basseri dialect are similar to English words:[10]

BasseriEnglishstandard Persianst. Persian transcription
VarWearپوشیدنPušidan
JongYoungجوانJavān
PatiEmptyخالیXāli
BabeBabyعزیزمAzizam
BabuBabyنوزادNowzād
KapCapکلاهKolāh
SolSoilخاکXāk
SekalSkeletenاستخوانOstoxān

Region
Basseri summerland in Harm, Larestan and also a view of Harm Lake

The Basseri habitat was originally Fars district; but big Basseri Communities are also in Khuzestan, Isfahan, Razavi Khorasan, Semnan and Tehran.

Migration

The winter land of the Basseri is in Jahrom, Evaz and north of Larestan County. They stay in Marvdasht, Pasargad, and Eqlid in summers.

Tribe hierarchy

The chief of the Basseri tribe rules through coercive authority. The main functions of the chief are: to allocate pastures and coordinate the migration of the tribes, settle disputes that are brought to him, and represent the tribe or any of its members in politically important dealings with sedentary authorities. Most matters of law are governed by custom and compromise in the Basseri tribe and is regulated by diffuse sanctions. However the chief will serve as a mediator for cases that can not be solved through tradition because of the matters of the case. The chief is not bound by precedent or custom in his decision, and his decision will be based on what he feels is "best for the tribe".[11]

The Darbar consist of Basseri tribe members who are closest with the chief and always migrate with him. Within the Darbar there is a personal valet, master of the stores, a groom for the chief's riding horse, a scribe, and a hunting/drinking companion.

Textile
A rug by the Basseri the tribe

All packing tools and rugs are locally made, woven by the women.[11] Women's clothes are largely sewn from bought material, while male clothing is bought finished.[11]

Basseri tribe rugs (see also Shiraz rug) are asymmetrically knotted, brighter in colours, with more open space and smaller ornaments and figure with Orange as the specific color. The women of the tribe usually make the rugs.[12]

Clans

The Basseri has two great sections called Waysi (Persian: ویسی‎) and Ali-mirzai (Persian: علی میرزایی‎).[13] Each section has several clans. Some of the clans are not originally from the Basseri, but are emigrants from other tribes or cities.

The Basseri clans include:

Waysi
  • Jowchin
  • Kolombey
  • Labmusa
  • Abdoli
  • Farhadi
  • Ile Khas
Ali-mirzai
  • Salehi
  • Karami
  • Ali-Ghanbari
  • Zohrabi
  • Ghughi
  • Mir
Emigrants
  • Ali-Shahgholi
  • Algholi (Ahle Gholi)
  • Hanai
  • Korejey
  • Sarvestani
  • Tarbor
  • Charbonicheh[14]

See also

References
  1. The Basseri foundation history (Persian)
  2. Nomads of Persia: The Basseri tribe. Ehsan Yousefi. 2014. Shiraz.
  3. These four are the three common "Indo-Euoropean" social tripartition common among ancient Iranian, Indian and Romans with one extra Iranian element (from Yashna xix/17). cf. Frye, p. 54.
  4. Kāẓim ʻAlamdārī. Why the Middle East Lagged Behind: The Case of Iran. University Press of America. p. 72.
  5. The Basseri etymology (Persian)
  6. The Basseri tribe:from Tornas to Lahbaz.Gholamreza Tavakkoli.2000.Tehran
  7. Basseri in encyclopedia of World Cultures
  8. Nomads of Persia:The Basseri tribe.Ehsan Yousefi.2014.Shiraz
  9. The Basseri tribe:from Tornas to Lahbaz.Gholamreza Tavakkoli.2000.Tehran
  10. The Basseri tribe:from Tornas to Lahbaz.Gholamreza Tavakkoli.2000.Tehran
  11. Barth 2013.
  12. Oriental rugs: a complete guide - Charles W. Jacobsen, C. E. Tuttle Co. 1962
  13. Iranica
  14. Islam World Encyclopedia (Persian)

Sources
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