Caravanserai

Caravanserai Definition

Caravansaries were like small roadside hotels built along major trade routes like the Silk Road. They were popular from the 3rd to the 17th centuries and used by merchants and caravans transporting goods as a safe place for respite. Not only were they space for travelers to rest, but they also functioned as exchange hubs.

Facts about the Caravanserai

• Historians don't know much about the exact origins of the caravanserai.

• Caravanserai became popular as access to trade routes expanded. More money trading hands meant more traders needing safe places to stop.

• An extensive network emerged, with caravanserais in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe.

• Caravanserais were helpful as they protected traveling merchants and their cargo from bandits.

• Caravanserais became places of cultural exchange.

Fig. 3: The Silk Road today, modern transportation still uses parts of the ancient trade network.

Caravanserai History

Time Period of the Caravanserai

Currently, historians know little about the exact origins of caravanserais. One thought is that Persian rulers developed them over 2500 years ago to keep the local roads safe.

One of the earliest examples of one is in Syria. It was built in approximately 3 BCE to aid travelers crossing the Syrian Desert.

Development of the Caravanserai

From the 7th century and on, Caravanserais were common structures built in the countryside and city centers across the Middle East, Ottoman Europe, and North Africa.

As trade routes expanded and the potential income from trading grew, Caravanserais sprouted up along trade routes as they were a necessary safety precaution.

Caranvanseri construction boomed in the 10th century, and they popped up along routes from China, India, Persia, and the Roman Empire. Times of political stability lent themselves to more building.

Eventually, a network of caravanserais emerged, crossing China, Iran, Turkey, Russia, North Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.

More of these safe havens sprung up over time. Not only did they give protection against unfriendly weather elements, but they also protected merchants from bandits. People constructed caravanserais a day's journey apart, providing safety to traveling merchants and their cargo.

Some caravanserais not only acted as a hostel for merchants to take respite in but also as a military outpost. These caravanserais had fortified walls and other protections.

Caravanserais fulfilled an additional role as they facilitated the spread of regional and international news. There is evidence of the caravanserais in Central Asia in the 16th century. These buildings had messenger horses to be used in spreading important information brought to the caravanserai by international travelers.

Fig. 4 - Ganjail Khna Caravanserai.

Caravanserais Today

While some caravanserais are in ruins today, many are still standing, such as Turkey and Iran's 12th and 13th-century caravansaries.

Caravanserai Architecture

Caravanserais protected merchants traveling trade routes like the Silk Road.

People constructed caravanserais outside of towns and villages. Large, thick walls surrounded them with air holes at the bottom. There was typically one entrance/exit that could be secured and locked. This entrance was often a strong, high gate that was tall enough to allow camels carrying goods to enter. The gates had guards to keep merchants and cargo safe. Many were equipped with heavy chains to secure the gate overnight.

Caravanserai was often square or rectangular shaped. Their heavily reinforced walls and secured gate resembled a mighty fortress.

While the outside gave the feeling of a mighty fortress, the inside resembled an inn. There were rooms for storage and rest along the perimeter. The first floor may have had a courtyard with enough space for camels to rest. There were often stables for camels, horses, and mules.

Merchants would often have access to cooking fires. The second floor of the building would often contain small rooms for merchants to sleep in and a bathhouse for hygiene purposes.

Traveling along a trade route in a caravan loaded with goods was often dangerous.

Significance of the Caravanserai

The caravanserai significantly improved the travels of merchants and caravans along the ancient Silk Road. The caravanserais functioned as guest houses along the trade route. Not only did they provide safe, overnight refuge, but they also acted as markets and places to exchange goods and culture.

How did these buildings lead to the exchange of culture? Well, people from all walks of life used them as places of refuge at the end of a day's journey. Travelers often came together and talked at the end of the day. Since not everyone has the same native language, people learn how to communicate to discuss the travel route or share news with one another. People shared food, clothing, and customs. There were often mosques nearby, and people discussed and shared the religions of Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, and Judaism.

Interrelated cultures developed alongside the Silk Roads, with multiple religions and languages flourishing in the area. The cities that surrounded the caravanserais became hubs of culture and intellectual thought. Eventually, new cultures developed because of the caravanserais that lined the Silk Roads.

Fig. 5 Madar Shah Caravanserai.

Caravanserai Summary

Caravanserais were small roadside inns that developed along trade routes in response to the inherent danger of traveling the routes alone at night. They were popular from the 3rd to the 17th centuries and used by merchants and caravans transporting goods as a safe place to rest.

Historians know little about their origins. They can still exist in the countryside and city centers across the Middle East, Ottoman Europe, and North Africa.

Caravanserais became more popular as access to trade routes expanded, and trade generated more income.

People built caravanserais outside of towns and villages. Often square or rectangular, they had large, thick walls, air holes, and one gate for people to enter and exit through. The central perimeter consisted of rooms for sleeping or storage. There was a central common area for people to converge or animals to rest. Some had dedicated stables, bathhouses, and prayer rooms.

The caravanserai significantly improved the travels of merchants and caravans along the ancient Silk Road. It created safety for travelers.

They also became places of cultural exchange.