main trade roads connecting to the silk road
Transkript
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. 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