Gabbeh weavers live in a relatively large territory in southwestern Iran. 

According to the new geographical divisions, this region is located in three provinces, including all of Fars and parts of Khuzestan and Chahar Mahal-e Bakhtiari. A line can easily be drawn around the land of gabbeh weavers.

A large part of the territory of gabbeh weavers is in the foothills of the Zagros Mountains. Another part stretches to the plains near the Persian Gulf. The differences in climate between these two regions has long attracted the attention of many people and has caused seasonal migration of several tribes. The pleasant winters of the Persian Gulf region and the cool summers of the green pasture lands in the Zagros foothills provide ideal places for the nomads and herdsmen. Thus, for as long as history remembers, these regions have been peopled by different tribes. Among these, the Lors and the Qashqa'i have contributed the most to gabbeh weaving. It is therefore important to look into the historical and tribal records about them.

The Lors must be recognized as the first natives of the gabbeh weaving territory. Even though they have no more than a thousand years of recorded history, many identify them with the prehistoric dynasties of the Kasites, and others think they were the first Aryans who emigrated to the Zagros Mountains region. These assumptions, in addition to what has been written about the history of the last thousand years of the Lors, suggest that the origin of the gabbeh must be sought in relation to these people. The first task, however, is to distinguish Lor gabbeh weavers from other Lors, for not all Lors have engaged in gabbeh weaving.

The Lors who live in the provinces of Fars, Chahar Mahal-e bakhtiari, and Khuzestan are gabbeh weavers. The rest, including the Lors of Lorestan (as well as the Lors in khorramabad. Borujerd, and Hamadan) who are generally known as Lor-e Kuchak (Lesser Lors), do not produce gabbehs.

Before discussing Lor gabbehs, it would be useful to provide an introduction to characteristics. In contrast to Lors and their ancient history, however, the Qashqa'I seem newly arrived guestsin Lor territory.

Before discussing Lor gabbehs, it would be useful to provide an introduction to the Qashqa'i, for the gabbehs of these two large tribes (Lors and Qashqa'i) share many characteristics. In contrast to Lors and their ancient history, however, the Qashqa'i seem newly arrived guests in Lor territory. The first mention of the Qashqa'i occurs in the seventeenth century in an insignificant context. The power and influence of the Qashqa'i, in fact, emerge after the mid-nineteenth century, when one of their leaders was appointed as the Ilkhan (tribal chieftain) of Fars. After that, this tribe functioned as the most important power in Fars. Some of this power resulted from tribal expansion, because the Qashqa'i attracted and accepted other people. Many of the Turkishspeaking groups who call themselves Qashqa'l today in reality are not related to the Qashqa'i but have attached themselves to this tribe because of their shared language and the security provided by the power and influence of the Qashqa'i chieftains. In addition to the Turkish-speaking groups, many non-Turkic tribes became part of the Qashqa'i Confederation seeking protection, and they gradually learned the Turkic Qashqa'i language and culture. Many Kurds, Lors, and Arabs belong to this category. In contrast to the Lors, who are more widespread, the Qashqa'i have a distinct territory and they travel between the north and south of Fars Province, though today parts of their territory are in the recently established provinces of Chahar Mahal and Kohkiluyeh.

Another group of people in Fars Province who have woven gabbehs are the tribes of the Khamseh (five) Confederation. This group consists of five tribes: Baharlu, Inanlu, Basseri, Nafar, and Arab. The Khamseh Confederation was formed in 1826, not along ethnic lines, but for political reasons. The Baharlu and Inanlu of Turkish background) and the Nafar (of Lor and Turkish stock) have woven some gabbehs, None from Khamseh members of Arabic descent (Basseri and Arab tribes) have come to light, however.