Turkic Caravanserais of the 10th–12th Centuries on the Silk Road and the Building Types that played a Role in their Development

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Abstract

The Ghaznavid, Karakhanid and Seljuk civilizations built monumental architectural works in their geography between the 10th and 12th centuries. These civilizations living on the Central Asian plateau built stations, inns and caravanserais between cities, on plains and valleys. Caravanserais, which constitute an important part of these works on the Silk Roads, were built as a resting and accommodation point between the long journeys of caravans, travelers or caravan caravans. The historical evolution of societies can often be traced through the architectural works they leave behind. Among these, architectural works such as stations, inns and caravanserais stand out as important structures that serve both practical purposes and play an important role in shaping the cultural and economic structure of the regions throughout history. In this study, attention is drawn to these architectural elements that affect the development, origins and architectural features of caravanserais. The historical significance of this architectural development process affecting Ghaznavid, Karakhanid and Seljuk caravanserais and its effects on contemporary understanding are also discussed. These structures, called caravanserais, inns or with different cultural names, show dimensional and functional diversity in the history of Turkish architecture, depending on the military and economic conditions of the civilization in which they were built. The study investigated the influence of Achaemenid and Parthian postal stations (çaparhane), Incense Road caravanserais, North Asian kurgan and courtyard housing architecture, and Early Middle Ages settlement structures on the development of Ghaznavid, Karakhanid and Seljuk caravanserais located on the Silk Road routes.