Nomadic Tribal Rugs Across The Persian Empire

For centuries, nomads roamed the great Persian empire, seeking new pastures for their animals and natural resources to make their harsh lives easier. From the time they discovered that the tough, long fibered wool from their sheep, goats, and even camels, could be spun into yarn, died with plant pigments and woven into cloth, they have been weaving rugs.

Nomadic tribes used flat-weave techniques to make their tents to protect themselves from the elements. In addition, they started to use kilims (flat-weave rugs) to cover earthen floors.

Weaving across the ages can be categorised based on the region of origin. Each with its own distinct flavour, techniques, designs and materials that contribute to the rich tapestry of both Persian and other Oriental rugs. The evolution of rug making among nomadic tribes, from the days of the first Persian Empire to the current day, is a fascinating journey from portable weaving in tents, to villages and finally to city workshops, mirroring the broader socio-cultural shifts from a nomadic lifestyle, to sedentary living in towns and cities.

Over time, the art of weaving improved and many useful items started to be made. Nomadic tribes used flat-weave techniques to make their tents to protect themselves from the elements, and cover earthen floors. As nomadic tribes started to spread across western Asia, they spread their weaving techniques to the people they met along what came to be known as The Silk Road, or Silk Route.

Weaving was part of daily life for nomadic tribes-people, with patterns and techniques passed down through generations, as both artistic expression and practical necessity. Because nomadic tribes were often on the move, their rugs were small—often no wider than a doorway—due to being woven on small, easily transportable, horizontal looms.

For the nomads, rugs were vital for warmth and comfort as floor coverings, tent hangings and bed coverlets. Despite transitioning from a nomadic to a more settled way of life, coupled with the impacts of national policies and the challenges of modernity, tribal rug making traditions have endured and adapted, continuing to tell the story of their unique histories and cultural identities.

What all the tribes have in common is an adherence to their rich traditions, especially in the art and craft of rug-making, which has endured and adapted, continuing to tell the story of their unique histories and cultural identities. From the earliest nomadic looms to the sophisticated large upright city workshop looms that came later, Persian rugs remain a symbol of cultural identity and artistic heritage.