Nomads traditionally do not build permanent homes mainly due to their migratory lifestyle and the need to adapt to environmental conditions:

1. Livelihood Dependence on Mobility: Nomadic people rely on pastoralism, meaning they move with their herds of livestock (such as sheep, goats, camels, or horses) to follow seasonal pastures and water sources. Building permanent homes would restrict their ability to migrate and could lead to overgrazing in one area, compromising the long-term sustainability of their grazing lands.
2. Adaptation to Environmental Factors: Nomads live in regions where weather patterns, availability of resources, and vegetation growth vary greatly throughout the year. Building portable dwellings allows them to move with ease according to these changes. For instance, yurts (or gers) for Mongolian nomads are easy to dismantle, transport, and reassemble elsewhere.
3. Resource Scarcity: In many arid or semi-arid regions where nomads commonly reside, building materials like wood and stone might be scarce. Instead, they construct temporary shelters using locally available and renewable materials, such as animal hides, wool felt, or brushwood.
4. Cultural and Social Practices: Nomadic cultures often place great value on flexibility, community cohesion, and intimate knowledge of the land. A mobile lifestyle fosters strong bonds among family and tribal members as they support each other through seasonal migrations.
5. Economic Considerations: Permanent housing requires significant investment, both in terms of labor and materials. Nomads invest in dwelling structures that are lightweight, cost-effective, and practical for their transient existence, rather than in immovable assets.

In contemporary times, various factors such as government policies, modernization, and climate change have impacted the traditional nomadic way of life, with some nomadic communities transitioning to more sedentary lifestyles or adopting hybrid forms of dwelling that blend elements of both permanence and mobility.

what nomadic peoples are there in the world today?

While many historically nomadic peoples have transitioned to settled or semi-nomadic lifestyles, there are still numerous populations around the world that continue to practice nomadism to varying degrees. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of contemporary nomadic or semi-nomadic peoples:

1. Mongolians – Some parts of the Mongolian population still engage in traditional nomadic pastoralism, moving with their herds of horses, cattle, sheep, and goats across the vast steppes.
2. Tuaregs – Found in the Sahara Desert region of North Africa, Tuareg nomads travel with their camel caravans and trade goods across the desert.
3. Maasai – Living in Kenya and Tanzania, the Maasai are known for their semi-nomadic lifestyle centered around herding cattle and goats.
4. Bedouins – Spread across the Middle East and North Africa, Bedouin tribes traditionally roam the deserts with their herds of camels, sheep, and goats, although many have now settled in towns and cities.
5. Yak Herders – In the Himalayas, Tibetan Plateau, and surrounding areas, ethnic groups like the Tibetans, Sherpas, and Bhutias practice yak herding, which involves seasonal migration to higher pastures.
6. Samis – Indigenous people of northern Scandinavia and Russia, Sami people traditionally followed the reindeer herds but many have adopted a more settled lifestyle.
7. African Pastoralists – Various African ethnic groups such as the Turkana in Kenya, Fulani in West Africa, and Dinka in South Sudan, continue to practice nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralism.
8. Nomadic Herders in Central Asia – Including Kyrgyz, Kazakh, and Tajik populations who live in countries like Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan, these peoples tend to graze their livestock on high-altitude summer pastures (called “jailoo” in Kyrgyz) and return to valleys in winter.
9. Native American Tribes – Although many Native American tribes have been displaced or forced to settle, some still practice seasonal movement following game or foraging, like the Navajo Churro sheepherders.
10. Bushman (San People) – Certain groups in Southern Africa still practice hunting and gathering, moving seasonally based on food availability.

Please note that the degree to which these groups practice full-time nomadism varies greatly, with many adapting to changing circumstances, including political borders, climate change, and economic pressures. Many modern-day nomadic peoples face challenges to maintain their traditional ways of life due to encroachment on their ancestral lands, governmental policies, and the impacts of globalization.