There are some places on Earth that seem like they couldn't support human life and yet somehow people manage. Like the people in
digenous to North Africa who had no choice but to develop methods of survival: the Berbers.
Restricted by the Sahara Desert, the Berbers developed into one of the most unique cultures in human history. But their harsh environment was not their only source of conflict. Today, the pressures of modernism and ethnic tyranny also influence the Berber's lifestyle.
The harsh environment of the Sahara Desert prevented any serious attempts at agriculture from taking root. Because of this, the Berbers chose instead to live as nomads rather than sedentary farmers. This mobile lifestyle is central to their culture, and perhaps the real reason why they referred to themselves as "free men."
The Berbers survived by raising herds of grazing animals and driving them from place to place. Herding was traditionally practiced by men, while women handled chores like weaving their distinctive blue robes. Although they used many different animals, including horses, the key beast for the Berbers was and is the camel. Unlike horses, camels can survive without water for long stretches of time. The camel's endurance made it possible for the nomadic Berbers to ride across huge expanses of desert.
Traditionally, Berbers used their unique ability to cross the Sahara to act as key players in the trade network between North Africa and the Middle East. Even today, Berber trade caravans make their way across the desert to support their way of life.
Another way their harsh environment has influenced their culture is navigation. Indeed, it is quite difficult to find one's way through the featureless sand-dune terrain of the Sahara Desert. For this reason, much like sailors have done on the open seas for thousands of years, the Berbers navigate by the stars. In addition, Berbers have many stories and songs that describe how to find the small watering holes and the few recognizable landmarks that dot the desert.
In terms of religion, the vast majority of Berbers are Muslim and have practiced their faith for centuries. But there are some unique aspects of their culture that has survived the introduction of new and different religions, especially when it comes to women. For example, unlike many of their settled neighbors, Berber women rarely wear veils and in some of their communities, women even choose their own husbands.
Berber society is centered around the concept of the tribe, which is usually composed of extended family clans. Each tribe has its own chief who often claims to be a descendant of the Prophet Mohammad. The chief is in charge of resolving disagreements as well as making important decisions for the tribe.
Similar to other nomadic cultures, Berber clans live in portable tents that are set up when they find a good area to graze their animals. One particularly unique part of Berber culture is guest rights. Once someone is given food and water by a Berber, they become their guest. The host then takes responsibility for the guest's safety. This may seem strange from a Western perspective, but in a place where finding a place to rest and a drink of water is a matter of life and death, hospitality is very important.
But the struggle between the modern and the traditional way of life has been a significant issue for Berbers in recent years. Like many native and traditional peoples, they have increasingly drifted to larger cities where they can find work to support their families. This has had a clear negative effect on the continuation of their unique nomadic lifestyle.
The Berbers have endured for thousands of years and with a little luck and determination, they'll survive for thousands more.
Question: Using evidence from the article to support your answer, how has the landscape of North Africa affected where the Berber
Ps: don’t put a small answer has to be a couple sentences long or it don’t count
