main trade roads connecting to the silk road

main trade roads connecting to the silk road

SILK ROAD AND THE ROLE OF THE CARAVANSARIES ON THE
TRADE AND SOCIAL LIFE:
Case of the Mid-Anatolia
Prof.Dr. M. Metin HÜLAGÜ
History Department of Erciyes Universty / Turkey
Res. Assist. Gökhan BOLAT
History Department of Erciyes Universty / Turkey
Abstract
Anatolia, located very important position with the Asia-Europe and Middle East
triangle preserved its importance throughout the history as a bridge in the cultural, political
and social fields. As a result of this position or role we can find traces of different kind of the
civilizations in this area.
Anatolia, as an area preserved its strategical importance from the old times until
today, had been one of the important ways of the historical Silk Road beginning from China
and India and ending in Europe.
Mid-Anatolia situated in a central position from the Assyrians epoch to today from
point of the commercial activities.
Trade road began from Upper Mesopotamia connected to the Anatolia with line of the
Assyria - Abd-al Aziz – Cebel – Harran – Malatya (Melitene), Darende (Timilkia), Gürün,,
Pınarbaşı (Ariarathiae), Ekrek and ended in Kültepe (Kayseri). Apart of this line, there were
three different lines terminating in Kültepe. The importance of the Anatolia from point of the
commercial activities can be understood from the Kültepe tablets exposed recently.
The mentioned significance of the Mid-Anatolia sustained throughout the “King
Road” which established in the period of the Lydia (B.C. VI). Mid-Anatolia was also at the
considerable cross-roads of the east and west trade point during the Roman era (B.C. II).
After the domination of the Turks in Anatolia the trade worth of the Mid-Anatolia went on
progressively more. During the Seljucian administration a number of caravanserais and Hans
were built on the trade ways in the district and patrolled the safety of the ways and built
bridges in order to facilitate the transportation and commercial insurance, presumably first
time in the history, put into practice.
1
Caravanserais are the most vital buildings of the commercial life on the way of the
Silk Trade Road in the Mid-Anatolian part. The traders were residing here and eat and drink
free of charge and they could have a bath in hammas (Turkish bath) and were praying or
worshiping in peace. The big caravanserais were including some social and health services
like as the hospital and pharmacy. This kind of services infected in the progress of the
commercial in Anatolia. The most important of the caravanserais and the Hans in MidAnatolia: Sarıhan (Saruhan), Ağzı Kara Han, Sultan Han, Zazadin Han, Kızılören Han,
Ertokuş Han, Karatay caravanseray, İpsile, Mengücek and Kayır Hans. Most of them
survived until today.
Kayseri (Casseria) as one of the most important trade centers in Mid-Anatolia was
located at a number of the trade cross-roads. Tabriz-Alaiye and Tabriz-Ayas, as a side or
sub-way of the Silk Road, were connecting to Kayseri. In addition to this fact, the connection
between Antalya-Erzurum lines was possible via Sivas and Kayseri lines.
Importance of the Mid-Anatolia continued during the Ottoman period. The
commercial road and buildings used during the Seljucian time preserved and were used in
commercial life in daily time.
There is no doubt that the trade activities and the buildings established on the way of
the historical Silk Road which located in the Mid-Anatolia were very important. The main aim
of this study is to explore the social and commercial effects of the caravansaries and hans
built in Mid-Anatolia.
Key Words: Silk Road, Caravansary, Han, Mid- Anatolia
2
I. THE ANATOLIAN CARAVAN ROADS IN THE COURSE OF HISTORY
A. The Caravan Routes Built in Anatolia Till The Seljukians
For the most ancient ages, the Anatolia has been at a significant junction where
commerce between the East and the West has taken place. It was particularly till the
geographical discoveries Anatolia was highly important for the commercial goods that the be
marketed in the West. Thus, Anatolia became a noteworthy commercial land at a time when
the earlier settlement centers began to emerge. The roads in Anatolia, which were certainly
crucial for the Anatolian commerce during the Hittites, were used by the Asurian merchants,
who were one of the greatest commercial components during the age in question, for the
commerce between Anatolia and Mesopotamia. One of the most ancient roads to be known in
the Roman period was King Road. This road started from Sardus in the region of Lydia1 and
then passing through Anatolia reached at Susa, the center of Persian Empire. In the Roman
period, the historical King Road reached at Sinop in north, at Antalya in south and at Erzincan
in east by having been separated into the various branches. The fact that Istanbul became the
capital of the Byzantine altered the road pattern of Anatolia, just following the division of the
Roman Empire into two separated entities as the East and the West. From this period, the
Roman road going towards the west replaced with the one directing to Istanbul. Consequently,
while the settlement centers (e.g. Kutahya, Kastamonu) in the northern part of Anatolia
developed accordingly, Efes and the district around in east began to regress2 .
Throughout the ancient periods, the Central Anatolia was just located at the junction of
these commercial routes. Kayseri, the most significant city of the region, connected many
various roads. The roads beginning from Mesopotamia in the centuries of 20-27th BC3 :
 Asur Abd - Al Aziz

Harran  Malatya (Melitene)
Gurun  Pinarbasi (Ariarathiae)
 Asur

Elbistan
Abd- Al Aziz

Saruz

 Asur  Abd- Al Aziz

Ekrek
Harran  Samsat
Ekrek

Serezek

 Harran  Antep
1


Darende (Timilkia)
Kayseri.This road was connected to Kultepe4
(Samsate)  Surgu  Dogansehir
Kayseri

Kultepe
Maras (Geremananicaia) Goksun
An ancient kingdom located in Asia Minor (in the area of present-day Turkey).
H. Yiğit, “ Selçuklu Kervansaraylarının Yapısı ve İşleyişi” MA thesis, Karadeniz Teknik University., Trabzon
2000,p.17.
3
Nezahat Baydur, Kültepe (Kaneš) ve Kayseri Tarihi Üzerine Araştırmalar, İstanbul 1970, p. 20, Halit
Erkiletlioğlu, Geniş Kayseri Tarihi, Kayseri 2006, pp. 48-49.
4
Kültepe is the name of the modern village near the ancient city of Kaneš in Central Eastern Anatolia. The
nearest modern city is Kayseri, about 20km southwest.
2
3
(Coccussuz)
 Asur
Abd-
Saimbeyli


Kemer Saruz  Ekrek
Al Aziz
 Harran 
 Serezek  Kayseri 

Antep
Simala
Kültepe
Sizium Feke
Kayseri  Kultepe
The roads to have been used by the Hittites in the century of 18 th BC5 :
Kanes

Erkilet (Archala)

Dadsun

Emmiler

Yozgat

Hattusas (Bogazkoy)
In the Greek-Roman period, Kayseri and the Central Anatolia were at the heart of the Roman
commercial network having connected almost all the roads. At this period, there were four
distinctive routes6 :
I. Efes  Malatya Road
II. Kayseri  Ankara Road
III. Kayseri  Blacksea Road
IV. Kayseri  North-East Anatolia Road
Trade roads the period of Roma ( Map I )
In the Byzantine age, the prominence of both Kayseri and the Central Anatolia was still valid.
The most preferred commercial roads are these following 7 :
 Anatolian Road in the direction of Southwest-Northeast
5
Erkiletlioğlu, p. 49.
Ibid., pp. 49 – 50.
7
Ibid., p. 50.
6
4

İkonion ( Konya)
Kolöneia ( Aksaray )


Kaisareia ( Kayseri)

Sebastia ( Sivas)
 Anatolian Road in the direction of Northwest – Southwest

Ankyra ( Ankara)

Kaisareia
Cocussus (Göksun)


Germanikeia ( Maraş)
 Central Road in the direction of West-East

İkonion ( Konya)
(Pınarbaşı)

Kolöneia ( Aksaray)
 Taranta 

Kaisareia

Ariaratheia
Melitene ( Malatya)
 The Road in the direction of North – South

Tabia Kaisareia

Podandos ( Pozantı)

Tarsos ( Tarsus)
B. The Commercial Roads in the Seljukians’ Anatolia
First, the Turks, who dominated in Anatolia just after the War of Malazgirt in 1071, began to
settle there by immigrating in groups of villagers, tradesmen, artists, craftsmen and religious leader.
In this period, the Anatolia, which quite worsened in terms of commerce as a consequence of
political disorders within the Byzantine period, would begin to develop remarkably. During these
years, the cities such as Sivas, Erzurum, Trabzon, Kayseri, Konya and Malatya, all of which are
connected to the Silk Road, became highly important for the commercial activities 8 . The commercial
roads of the period are divided into three main branches:

The roads connecting West and East

The roads connecting North and South

The roads connecting Southeast and Istanbul
These roads mentioned above are all connected to many different commercial centers. These
centers are:

Tabriz in East

Aleppo via the route of Iraq – Baghdad- Syria

The ports of Ayasulug – Agabeye – Antalya on the Aegean coasts

Istanbul at the region of straits in northwest

The ports of Sinop, Samsun and Trabzon on the Black Sea coasts 9
8
Orhan Cezmi Tuncer, “ Kervan Yolları”, Anadolu Selçukluları ve Beylikler Dönemi Uygarlığı ( Mimarlık ve
Sanat), Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı Pub., Ankara 2006, p. 419
9
M. Kemal Özergin, Anadolu Selçuklu Çağında Anadolu Yolları, İstanbul Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi, PhD
thesis, İstanbul 1999, p. 55.
5
Seljukian Caravansaries (Map II )
The routes of these roads, reaching at Anatolia with distinctive routes, are the following:
1. The Roads Connecting East to West
a. Aleppo Road : Tabriz
Ahlat

Bitlis

Nunbia / Hanbia
Erzen


Marend



Meyyakefarin (Silvan)
Hoy
Sokmenabad


Bargiri  Van
Diyarbakir

Harran

Vustan 

Suruc
Aleppo
b. Tabriz – Ayas Road

Tabriz

Sivas

Tabriz

Dogubeyazit

Kayseri  Konya

Erzurum


Ayas
Kemah  Sivas

Kayseri  Konya
c. Tabriz – Black Sea Road

Tabriz

Erzurum

Trabzon

Tabriz

Erzurum

Erzincan

Sivas

Amasya
d. Tabriz – Mediterranean Road
2. The Roads from Baghdad to West
a. Baghdad – Istanbul Road
10
11

Baghdad

Sivas

Baghdad

Kayseri  Ankara

Ankara

Ibid., p. 63.
Ibid., p.98.
6
Istanbul

Istanbul11

Samsun

Sinop10

Ayas

3. The Roads Connecting north to the south
a. Sinop (Black Sea) – Antalya – Alanya (Mediterranean)

Sinop


Ankara

Konya
Antalya
Alanya12

b. Samsun – Ayas Road

Samsun

Amasya

Aksaray

Samsun

Amasya

Sivas


Konya

Ayas
Kayseri  Aksaray

Konya

Ayas
13
4. Black Sea – Agean Port Road

Trabzon

Sivas

Konya

Burdur

Agean ports

Samsun

Sivas

Konya

Burdur

Agean ports

Sinop

Konya

Burdur
 Agean
ports14
5. Black Sea – Mesopotamia – Damascus Road
a. Tabriz – Baghdad – Aleppo Road

Trabzon

Sivas

Malatya

Baghdad

Aleppo
6. The Roads from Southeastern Anatolia to Istanbul
a. Baghdad – Istanbul
Aleppo – Istanbul

Aleppo

Kayseri  Ankara

Aleppo

Kayseri  Konya


Istanbul
Istanbul
15
The recent studies have clarified the routes of these commercial roads. Among the routes
which have been clarified or newly discovered16 , there are some such as Ighdır – Batum, Sivas –
Divrigi, Divrigi – Kemah, Divrigi – Kemaliye, Divrigi – Arabkir, Arabkir – Elazig, Malatya –
Elbistan, Malatya – Sivas, Malatya – Harput, Sinop – Yozgat - Kayseri, Kayseri – Maras, both the
shores of the Euphrates, the routes in the Eastern Anatolia, Syria – Urfa – Diyarbaqir and the
connection of Konya to Mediterranean.
12
Ibid., p.108.
Ibid., p.117.
14
Ibid., p.123.
15
Ibid., p.134.
16
Ayşıl Yavuz, “Kervansaraylar”, Anadolu Selçukluları ve Beylikler Dönemi Uygarlığı ( Mimarlık ve Sanat),
Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı Pub., Ankara 2006, p. 435.
13
7
II. HANS AND CARAVANSARIES OF ANATOLIA
A. The Origin of the Caravansaries
The word ‘caravansary’ consists of two Persian words, one ‘Kar-ban’ and another ‘Saray’.
Kar-ban means a person protecting a business and actually implies a group of tradesmen traveling
together to defend themselves against the robbers and the bandits in the Persian language 17 . The
Turks have named these works and the remarkably larger ones as ‘han’ and ‘sultan han’,
respectively18 . There have been some different views about how the hans have emerged in the course
of history. Although the buildings, called ‘Flaktria by Heredot, at the menzils (arrivals) on the King
Road lying from Sard, a town in Manisa, to Sus in the ancient periods have been considered as hans,
it is a commonly known fact that any absolute knowledge of the period is not available mentioned.
Chichero has reported that these are the hans to have been built with an approximate space of 75
kilometers from the military camps called ‘castrum’ in the Roman period, and that the transportation
was provided with ‘Kuadrikas’ and ‘Castel Castrum’ in which some soldiers were kept especially at
the strategically important points of the roads. In these buildings, there are some sections like
stables, resorts and rooms. While Karl Multer has suggested that the Byzantine Castrums were the
origin of the caravansary, Kurt Erdman has claimed by showing some han types in Anatolia that the
buildings in Iran and Syria, which reached the Sassanids based on the caravansary in Kasr’ul Hayr’ul
Garbi, were actually the origin of the caravansary19 .
It has been possible to observe that the hans and caravansaries to have been begun building
from the mid-12th century and to have increased in numbers for the centuries were constructed in any
other places than Anatolia. These buildings, which were built with the name of Ribat, and owned
some different characteristics in terms of building objectives, can be dated to 8th century20 . The
earliest caravansary to have been built in Anatolia is Altınapa Han, dated to the year 1200, on the
way of Konya – Beysehir21 .
B. The Importance of Caravansaries in the Socio-economic Life
17
Anonim, “Kervan” İslam Ansiklopedisi, Vol. VI, İstanbul 1955, p. 617
Celal Esad Arseven, Sanat Tarihi Ansiklopedisi, M.E.B Pub., Vol. II, İstanbul 1966, p. 1052.
19
Feramuz Berkol, "Türk Han ve Kervansarayları ve Bugün Turizm Hizmetinde Kullanılmaları", Vakıflar
Dergisi, Nu. X, Ankara 1973 p. 349
20
Fuat Köprülü, “Ribatlar”, Vakıflar Dergisi, Nu. II, Ankara 1942, p. 267., Osman Turan, “Selçuklu
Kervansarayları”, Belleten, Vol. X, Nu. 39, Ankara 1946, p. 489.
21
Turan, p. 478.
18
8
The caravansaries whose emerging process mentioned above are highly important both as an
indispensable unit of commercial life and an effective element influencing the social life in the
region. Particularly, this certain characteristic of the caravansaries in Anatolia appeared clearly in the
Seljukians. The highly-developed commerce in the Seljukians should be classified in three types:
the first is trade at home, the second is the trade with abroad and the last is caravan organization.
The trade at home was often done at the square bazaars and trade hans in the great cities. The
business branch which the Seljukians earned the most at the international commerce is the caravan
trade between west - east and north – south22 .
Due to its significance in the commercial life, the Seljukian sultans and major statesmen had
one caravansary at 30-40 kilometers’ interval built on the important commercial roads 23 . The
caravansaries to have been built throughout this period carried out some important functions, like
social, political, military and commercial ones. The first of these functions was to provide the
security of the caravans on the roads. Therefore, the caravans were surrounded with the walls, and
some turrets and bastions were built on these walls. Their gates were made with iron so as to make it
sheltered against all kinds of danger24 .
Another function of the caravansaries was to meet all the needs of tradesmen and travelers
during their accommodation duration. Accordingly, some important facilities were built at the
caravansaries. For example, there were such services as dormitories, dining halls, warehouses for
food, stores, barns, haylofts, masjids for the travelers’ praying, hamam (Turkish bath) for the coming
visitors to have a bath, fountains for ritual ablution, hospitals and pharmacies for the sick travelers,
shoemakers for the travelers to have their shoes repaired or to have a new pair made, blacksmiths to
shoe the animals in these caravansaries25 . Besides these facilities mentioned above, some officials
were assigned in order to run the caravansaries.
In Anatolia, one of the most important centers at the medieval trade, the importance of the
hans which became the indispensable part of the Seljukians’ state and so commercial policies
starting from the late 12th century, increased in a short time as the most prominent buildings on the
major commercial roads by spreading throughout all parts of Seljukian lands26 .
22
Mustafa Akdağ, Türkiye’nin İktisadî ve İctimaî Tarihi, Vol. I, İstanbul 1974, pp. 29-30.
Turan, p. 471.
24
Ibid., p. 477.
25
Ibid, p. 479.
26
Aynur Durukan, “Aksaray Sultan Hanı”, Anadolu Selçuklu Dönemi Kervansarayları, Kültür Bakanlığı Pub.,
Ankara 2007, p. 149.
23
9
Though it is a commonly shared opinion that the visitors stayed free at the caravansaries
almost all of which were established by a waqf27 , it would be an exaggerated generosity to
generalize this approach to all kinds (natives or foreigner) of travelers and tradesmen. Staying
without paying anything might have been valid for the ones who were seriously poor. Because, there
were 28 taxation stations on the route from Ayas to Tabriz. For a tradesman, having paid for tax at a
menzil in which tax was collected, having been hosted free was something contrary to the nature28 .
By an article of a 1320-dated agreement having interested the whole Ilhanid lands which was signed
as a unilateral firman between the Venetians and the Ilhanids, the dominant over Anatolia with the
War of Kosedag in 1243, it can be easily seen that the tradesmen didn’t stay completely free, and
staying at the caravansaries free was presented to the some people as a privilege and this application
was guaranteed with the agreements. Here is the article:
“ the caravans and the tradesmen passing through these caravansaries
could graze their animals for three days without paying, and nobody can
create any difficulty to those on this issue” 29
However, it can be concluded from the records that the poor, hajjis, privileged people or
groups, state officials were given services free at several waqf hans in which too few services were
provided30 .
Exception for the external hans or caravansaries on the roads, there were also some hans
within the cities or towns. In addition to the fact that they were special for the tradesmen and
travelers, these facilities were all trade-centered businesses having required a certain amount of
payment. Thus, they were called only han, but not ribat or caravansary31 . These hans had some
structural similarities with the caravansaries on the roads. However, the hans in the cities were such
places at which the visitors not only stayed, but also they did trade and entertained during their
accommodation duration.
C. Some Caravans and Their Characteristics Built in Mid-Anatolia
1- Karatay Caravansary
It is located in a village called Karadayı (Karatay) which is at the 4 kilometers southern
region from the village of Elbasi, at 40 kilometers eastern of Kayseri. The han is on the road of
27
Turan, p.479.
Yavuz, p.443.
29
Ibid. p. 443
30
Turan, p.481
31
Ibid., pp. 495-496.
28
10
Kayseri – Kahramanmaras connecting Inner Anatolia to Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia. Another
characteristic of the han is its proximity to Yabanlu Bazaar32 which is accepted as an international
fair in the 13th century33 . The closed section of the han was made between 1230 and 1236 by
Alaaddin Keykubat I34 . The courtyard at the han was made in 1240 by Karatay, the renowned vizier
of the time. The han had two parts, one is for summer and another is for winter. The one for summer
has a courtyard. The top of the part for winter is completely covered. There is a 1247 dated
waqfiya35 for Karatay Han. This waqfiya is very important as an indicator showing how the hans
run. According to the waqfiya, the han was thought as an institution with a function of social support
besides the ones about transportation and trade, and its waqfiya was designed based on this
approach. In the waqfiya in question, besides that some information about social support decrees
such as distributing food free, meeting all kinds of needs, even including their shoes, of the poor,
looking after the sick can be seen easily, there were also some detailed records about the wages to
have been paid to the servants at the waqfiya 36 .
32
See for a comprehensive information about Yabanlu Bazaar at Faruk Sümer, Yabanlu Pazarı,Türk Dünyası
Araştırmaları Vakfı Pub., İstanbul 1985.
33
Mustafa Denktaş, “Karatay Hanı”, Anadolu Selçuklu Dönemi Kervansarayları, Kültür Bakanlığı Pub., Ankara
2007, p. 359.
34
Cengiz Bektaş, Selçuklu Kervansarayları, Y.E.M Pub., İstanbul 1999, p.122., Turan, Ibid, p. 481.
35
See for a comprehensive information about Karatay Han Waqfiya Osman Turan, Selçuklu Kervan sarayları,
pp. 481 -486., also Osman Turan, “Selçuklu Devri Vakfiyeleri III, Celaleddin Karatay Vakıfları ve Vakfiyesi”,
Belleten, Vol. XII, Nu 45, 1948, pp. 17 – 173.
36
İsmet İlter, Tarihi Türk Hanları, Karayolları Genel Müdürlüğü Pub., Ankara 1969, p. 44.
11
2 - Sultan Han (Tuzhisar - Kayseri)
It is located in the village of Sultanhanı, at the 46 th kilometers of the road between Kayseri
and Sivas. This road is reported to have been used by the Romans37 . According to the inscription, it
was made in 1236 in the time Alaaddin Keykubat (1220 - 1237). There is a hamam and a Kösk
masjid at the middle of the courtyard38 . It is the second largest han following Sultan Han in Aksaray.
Based on its matured structural type, it can be said that it is a perfect work in every respect. The han
is turned toward west. Two turrets and a tajkapi exist in the middle. The han was restored in 1951 by
the General Directorate of Waqfs. The building is generally in good condition, except for its Kösk
masjid39 . There is a Turkish bath at the northwestern corner of the courtyard. A scene of castle can
be realized with its mass walls and various reinforcing turrets.
3 - Sultan Han (Aksaray)
It is between Konya and Aksaray and 40 kilometers far from Aksaray. Of the Seljukian
caravansaries, it is the largest and most spectacular work. It is located within a town called Sultan
Han. It was made in 1229 by Alaaddin Keykubat I. According to the inscription written on the
courtyard gate, the architect of the building was Muhammed Bin Havlan El-Dimaskı. Soon after
37
Yıldıray Özbek, “Tuzhisar Sultan Hanı”, Anadolu Selçuklu Dönemi Kervansarayları, Kültür Bakanlığı Pub.,
Ankara 2007, p.175.
38
Albert Gabriel; Kayseri Türk Anıtları, Trans. A. Akif Tütenk, Ankara 1954, p. 113.
39
Seyit Çeliker, Ortaçağ Kayseri ve Çevres i Hanları, MA Thesis, Kayseri 1998, p. 39; Bektaş, p. 114; İlter, p.
29.
12
having been constructed, it burnt, and then it was enlarged in 1278 with a comprehensive restoration
in the period of Gıyaseddin Keyhusrev40 . This caravansary which provided an opportunity for secure
accommodation to the caravans passing through the Silk Road is the largest work among the similar
ones in Turkey. It was used as a castle against the Monglian assaults by the Seljukians. It has been
built with hewn stones. Its tac-kapi, all of which has been made of marble, has some geometrical
ornament on. The han is turned toward south-west. It consists of two parts, the closed part is for
winter and the open one is for summer. A kosk masjid exists in the middle of the courtyard. At the
gate of the masjid, there is a writing of ‘El Nimet Lillah (The power is the God’s)’. Today, the han is
in good conditions.
41
Sultan Han is at the heart of the main road which formed the most important
trade network of the age, and connected the ports of Antalya and Alanya to Iran and Georgia via
Konya – Aksaray – Kayseri – Sivas – Erzincan – Erzurum42 .
4 - Sarı (Saruhan) Han
It is on the Valley of Damsa Creek, which is 5 kilometers east of Avanos on the road of
Kayseri – Aksaray. From the Romans to the 19 th century, it is known that this road had the same
route ( Kayseri – Aksaray – Konya ) even though some changes happened43 . The han is turned
toward west. It consists of a covered part with five rooms and a part with a courtyard. Any
40
Durukan, p. 141.
Bektaş, p. 140 ; İlter, p. 24.
42
Durukan, p. 148.
43
Abdullah Karaçağ, “Avanos Sarı Han”, Anadolu Selçuklu Dönemi Kervansarayları, Kültür Bakanlığı Pub.,
Ankara 2007, p.211.
41
13
information about the construction date is not available. However, the han has been dated to the year
of 1238. There is a masjid to have been built over the gate and Turkish bath. The han has been
restored in recent years44 .
5 - Öresin Han (Delik Han)
It is 12 km far from Alay Han on the road of Aksaray – Nevsehir. Since there is not any
inscription, the definite date of construction is not available. However, it is estimated that it was built
in the third quarter of 13th century. Much of the han has collapsed45 .
44
45
Bektaş, p. 110 ; İlter, p. 58.
İlter, p. 57.
14
6 - Alay Han (Aliye Han, Alayın Han, Pervane Han)
Alay Han is at the 40 kilometers west of Aksaray on the road of Aksaray – Nevsehir. It is 18
and 12 kilometers far from Agzıkara Han and Oresin Han, respectively. Besides that who made this
han on which date is not clearly known, it is suggested that it was built in the period of Kılıcarslan I
(1155 - 1192) or of Alaeddin Keykubad (1220 - 1237). According to another source, it might have
been built by Zahuriddin Pervane, the son of Danishment Yagıhasan Bey, and based on this
estimate; his name was given to the building later. Today, the han is abandoned46 .
7 - Ağzıkara Han (Hoca Mesud Caravansary)
It is in a village called Agzıkara at the 15 km east of Aksaray, on the former route of the road
between Aksaray and Nevsehir. The han was constructed by Hoca Mesud bin Abdullah. The
construction of the closed part was started in the period of Alaeddin Keykubat I (1231), and it was
fully completed in 1239 together with the part in courtyard at the time of Gıyaseddin Keyhusrev II.
There is a kosk masjid and also a Turkish bath in the courtyard. The caravansary, not having been
able to be used any more in the 19th century, was abandoned. The han, which was later restored in
1965 is today in good condition47 .
46
Bekir Deniz, “Alay Han”, Anadolu Selçuklu Dönemi Kervansarayları, Kültür Bakanlığı Pub., Ankara 2007, p.
51,57 ; İlter, p. 21.
47
Bekir Deniz, “Ağzıkara Han”, Anadolu Selçuklu Dönemi Kervansarayları, Kültür Bakanlığı Pub., Ankara
2007, p. 321,339; Bektaş, p. 98 ; İlter, p.42.
15
8 - Kesikköprü Han (Caca Bey Han)
It is at the 18 km south of Kırsehir on the road of Kırsehir – Aksaray. The construction type
is similar to the one of Agzıkara Han. There is a masjid to be built over the gate. Based on its
inscription, the han, which was built by Nureddin Cebrail Cece (Caca Bey), the ruler of Kırsehir,
was all completed in 126848 .
9 - Obruk Han
The han, located between Aksaray and Konya, is in a village called Obruk which is 74 km far
from Konya. It is at an area between Zazadin Han and Sultan Han in Aksaray. The han is located
48
İlter, p. 50.
16
nearby a tectonic subsidence. Since this subsidence is a deep lake, it can be suggested that the water
need was met from there. The fact that the vicinity of the han was both a vast settlement area and an
important trade center at that period can be realized from the ruins. While Alaaeddin Keykubad was
going to Konya from Kayseri to ascend the throne, he was welcomed nearby Obruk49 . The han
consists of a covered part with five rooms and a much larger open part. Even though there are many
opinions about construction date, it is estimated that it was built in the mid-13th century50 .
10 - Zazadin Han (Sadeddin Köpek Caravansary)
It is located nearby the village of Tomek, which is at the 20 km east of Konya, on the road of
Aksaray – Konya51 . The construction was started at the period of Alaeddin Keykubat, and the work
was fully completed at the period of Gıyaseddin Keyhusrev. The han was built by the vizier
Sadeddin Kopek. The han, which is turned toward west, consists of a covered part with a dome and a
bit larger part with a courtyard. There is a masjid built over the gate. There are two inscriptions at
the han, one is in the internal portal and another is in the external one 52 .
49
Ali Baş, “ Obruk Hanı”, Anadolu Selçuklu Dönemi Kervansarayları, Kültür Bakanlığı Pub., Ankara 2007,
p.347.
50
Ibid, p. 348 ; İlter, p. 55 ; Bektaş, p. 94.
51
Ali Baş, “Yeni Buluntular Işığında Zazadin Hanı’nın Değerlendirilmesi”, I. Uluslararası Selçuklu Kültür ve
Medeniyeti Kongresi Bildirileri, Vol. I, Konya 2001, p. 101.
52
Mustafa Önge, “Zazadin Han”, Anadolu Selçuklu Dönemi Kervansarayları, Kültür Bakanlığı Pub., Ankara
2007, p.195 ; Bektaş, p. 90 ; İlter, p.32.
17
11 - Kara Mustafa Pasha Caravansary
Although it is not on the road outside the city in the Ottoman period, it is one of the most
important caravansaries to have been built in Central Anatolia. The caravansary, which was
constructed in 1660 in Incesu, a town of Kayseri, by Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha having come
here as a inspector, was donated some incomes necessary for the organization of Turkish bath,
mosque, bazaar, maktap, five fountains, six abdesthanes, baker’s, tannery, bezirhane, garden, three
barns at Karasaz, a hayloft and six farmer rooms. There is a 30 shops’ bazaar within the han, which
was built as a kulliya53 .
53
Erkiletlioğlu, p.419 ; İlter, p. 68.
18
12 - Vezir Han (Kayseri)
Vezir Han, one of the most noteworthy hans to have been built within the city in the Ottoman
period, was constructed by Nevsehirli Damat Ibrahim Pasha in the years of 1723 – 1724. In order to
enhance the importance of the bazaar, it was reported with a decree that only some respected jobs of
the time such as jewelers, the sellers of wool garments, fabric sellers and broadcloth weavers were
permitted to do trade. The han, which was made of hewn stones, has a spectacular plan54 . In addition
to the fact that the two-floored han near the Covered Bazaar at the city center is still used in
economic terms, there are some carpet or kilim sellers at the bazaar. If evaluated comprehensively, it
will draw more attention with its authentic structure.
In the Central Anatolia, many caravansaries were built both in the Seljukian and Ottoman
periods. However, since evaluating all is something impossible for the limits of this study, it is the
best to say only their names of the other hans and caravansaries. They are the following 55 :
In the Seljukian period;
In Kayseri, Kargı Han, Mosque of Hunat Hatun
In Konya, Akbas Han, Altın Apa Han, Dokuzun Han, Eli Kesik Han, Gaferyat Han, Kamereddin
Han, Karatay Hans, Katrancı Han, Kireli Han, Kurucesme Han, Kızıloren Han, Kozak Han, Okla
Han, Ruz Apa Han, Sartavul Han, Seyfeddin Ferruh Han, Yunuslar Han, Zalmanda Han, Zincirli
Han, Kadın Han, Orta Payam Han, Sahip Ata Han (Ilgın Han), Zıvarık Han.
54
Erkiletlioğlu, p. 464.
See for a comprehensive list and map of the caravans aries at İlter, pp. 110 – 120. Also for a comprehensive
list of Seljukian caravansaries in Kayseri, see Erkiletlioğlu, pp. 244-245., Muhammet Görür, “Anadolu Selçuklu
Dönemi Kervansarayları Kataloğu”, Anadolu Selçuklu Dönemi Kervansarayları, Kültür Bakanlığı Pub., Ankara
2007, pp.473-529.
55
19
In Nevsehir, Sunnetli Han I – II, Dolay Han (Til Han)
In Kırsehir, Kopru Koy Han, Camalak Han
In Nigde, Ak Han, Boget Han, Cifte Han, Misli Han, Sari Han, Sıra Cakıl Han, Sultan Han, Bor
Han, Kılıc Arslan Han
In the Ottoman period;
In Kayseri, Gon Han, Mahkeme Han, Vezir Han, Pamuk Han, Barsama Han
In Konya, Bezciler Han, Mumbiç Hatun Han, Nizamiye Han, Seljuk Han, Hoca Mezit Han,
Ekmekcioglu Ahmet Pasha Han (Bayram Pasha Han), Han (in Alaca Han), Lala Mustafa Pasha
Caravansary, Pamukcu Han, Rustem Pasha Han, Buzlukbasi Han.
In Nevsehir, Damat Ibrahim Pasha Caravansary, Han (in Ulukisla), Kadife Han, Okuz Mehmet
Pasha Caravansary (in Ulukisla)
In Kırsehir, Kasaplar Carsısı Han, Saraclar Carsısı Han
20
CONCLUSION
The caravansaries located on the Silk Road has become one of the most significant elements of that
thousands kilometers’ long trade road. In terms of functions and construction delicacy the
caravansaries had, military and state power in the period they were built.
All kinds of needs,
including security, of the tradesmen on this road were met thanks to these buildings. The trade of the
time remained continuously active and functional.
The Anatolia, functioning as a bridge between the West and the East, has become one of the most
prominent routes of the Silk Road because of its geographical location and the importance of the
roads passing through it. Just following the Turkish control in Anatolia, the importance of the roads
and the functions of the caravansaries built on the trade roads increased. The caravansaries which
were considered to be a reflecting element of the state’s prestige in the Seljukian period were built
by the State itself, and were provided with its restoration and security. This situation resulted in
keeping the trade in Anatolia active continuously. The process having started in the Seljukians
continued without changing in the Ottoman period, and every kinds of effort were made in order to
keep trade active.
As seen in the study, the Central Anatolia was one of the most important junctions for the trade life
in Anatolia. Most of the caravansaries and hans in Anatolia were constructed in this part of Turkish
land, and this region became the route of the various trade roads going to different directions. This
characteristic of the Central Anatolia can be still observed for the today’s structure.
Consequently, the historic trade road, the Silk Road, should be revived in trade and cultural respects
by making the determination of the routes which it followed in the past. The first step to take is to
determine the routes in a detailed way and to provide the restoration of the buildings on the trade
roads by the concerned state in order to leave inheritance to the next generations.
21
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