Caravanserai

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The Caravanserai south of 'Aqarquf Dunes in present-day Iraq

A Caravanserai was a type of inn or tavern situated along roadsides, serving as a place where groups of travelers, or caravaners could rest and recover from their day's journey. Caravanserais played an important role in ensuring the flow of trade, commerce, the transmission of information and people across the trades routes along the Silk Road, which covered the continents of Asia, North Africa, and Southeast Europe.

Description

During the Middle Ages, caravanserais were usually constructed by the caliphs, their relatives, and members of the local elite as a display of their piety and generosity. At least a hundred of them dotted the the empire, especially in the Iranian-Iraqi core regions. Each of them were built roughly thirty kilometers apart, the distance that a traveller and their pack animal could be expected to travel in a day. Within the building, travelers could rest for the night, exchange goods and news, and pay taxes to ensure the continued maintenance of the facility.

While most caravanserais generally have the same layout featuring a courtyard surrounded by walls, their physical appearance and facilities available varied from one or another. Caravanserais in plains and deserts featured mostly open courtyards with walls made of dried breaks, while caravanserais in mountains would feature full roofed areas to keep out the area and snow. Those that were well-appointed even had cisterns, stables, a prayer space, and rooms for guests installed with a number of guards stationed. Otherwise, most common caravanserais were simple and roofed galleries without these luxuries.

Today, no caravanserais survived, with the Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi in Syria serving as the closest comparison.

Known caravanserais

• Abandoned Caravanserai in Badaraya Sands, Iraq
• Caravanserai south of 'Aqarquf Dunes, Iraq
• Dionysias Caravanserai in Dionysias, Egypt

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Origins (first appearance)
• Echoes of History (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: The Silk Road
• Assassin's Creed: Mirage