History Main / WanderingCulture

The group is usually persecuted, or at least distrusted in the lands they travel through, because of their nomadic ways. They tend toward the mystical side of things, although they're rarely an entire race of wizards. They might believe in witchcraft, psychics, fortunetelling, or other superstitions not held by the majority, but they aren't necessarily any more talented at it.

** The original Arabs (we're talking Neo-Assyrian times and before) were a nomadic people, and traditionally shunned settled civilization. Some of them eventually decided to settle, but others never gave up their original way of life, thus becoming the first [[BedouinRescueService Bedouins]]. The Arabic language does not distinguish "Arab" from "Bedouin", as both are called ''Arab''; "Bedouin" (or rather, ''Badawiyy'') just means "nomad" and can refer to any nomadic people.

** The original Arabs (we're talking Neo-Assyrian times and before) were a nomadic people, and traditionally shunned settled civilization. Some of them eventually decided to settle, but others never gave up their original way of life, thus becoming the first [[BedouinRescueService Bedouins]].

* Both in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', the [[BlowYouAway Air Nomads]] have no fixed abode. While there are four air temples, the peaceful, meditative culture that held wisdom the world now mostly lacks, found value in traveling the world and meeting all types of people from all walks of life.

* ''Art/BeastFables'': Certain weremammal nations, such as elephants, are constantly migrating. The closest things they have to settlements are portions of cities ruled by non-nomadic people.

* Both in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', the Air Nomads have no fixed abode. While there are four air temples, the peaceful, meditative culture that held wisdom the world now mostly lacks, found value in traveling the world and meeting all types of people from all walks of life.

* The Eurasian Steppe, from ancient times to the early modern period, was nomad central. A lot of the famous groups that inspired the HordesFromTheEast trope - Turks, Huns, UsefulNotes/{{Mongol|ia}}s, Scythians, and the like - hailed from this region. Many of them established [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomadic_empire large, nomadic empires]] that posed a challenge to their settled neighbours. However some of these groups (especially the UsefulNotes/{{Turk|ey}}s) would later become settled themselves.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}'': The Vistani are heavily inspired by the real-life Romani. They mostly make a living travelling between the domains of dread, trading in jewelry and rare goods, or doing small jobs for locals. While they were considered suspicious-to-outright villainous in earlier editions, 5e rewrote them as being seen with some suspicion, but also a welcome change of pace in the otherwise monotonous lives of Ravenloft's denizens. Until TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsFifthEdition, they were also afflicted by a curse that made them unable to stay in one place for long.

* ''WebOriginal/HamstersParadise'': The Harmsters are the first sapient species to evolve on HP-02017 and are divided into four separate species. The most widespread of these are the Savannah Harmsters, who live a nomadic lifestyle due to them primarily feeding on large herding animals. One culture known as the Pyromaniacs have also had a very profound effect on the ecosystem due to their fire-based hunting strategy and nomadic lifestyle burning large swaths of land and leading to several extinctions and displacements.

-->-- ''Videogame/GrimDawn''

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* ''Series/TheWheelOfTime'': The Tuatha'an are nomads who constantly travel around to look for a song, doing work to sustain themselves in the meantime. Many people distrust them as a result, wrongly believing they're thieves. However, in fact they're strictly pacifist and benevolently let strangers into their midst.

* The Eurasian Steppe, from ancient times to the early modern period, was nomad central. A lot of the famous groups that inspired the HordesFromTheEast trope - Turks, Huns, Mongols, Scythians, and the like - hailed from this region. Many of them established [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomadic_empire large, nomadic empires]] that posed a challenge to their settled neighbours. However some of these groups (especially the Turks) would later become settled themselves.

* ''Art/BeastFables'': Certain weremammal nations, such as elephants, are constantly migrating. Their closest things they have to settlements are portions of cities ruled by non-nomadic people.

* ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'' has the Harfoots in the Second Age -- who are the ancestors of Hobbits from the Shire -- survive via stealth, moving from place to place, setting up temporary camps and moving on when resources run out, or danger approaches.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': After Ahsoka abandons the Jedi Order, she no longer calls Anakin "Master" but by his name.

* ''Film/AmericanHoney'' follows a traveling magazine sales crew that crisscrosses America. The group, mostly comprised of poor teens, never stay in one place for long and attract other young people looking for adventure.