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An Analytic Study on Ambiguity of Evolution of Caravanserais, Comparative


study of Ilkhanid and Safavid Samples

Conference Paper · May 2005


DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4786.4567

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An Analytic Study on Ambiguity of Evolution of Caravanserais,
Comparative study of Ilkhanid and Safavid Samples
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Elham Andaroodi¹, Frederic Andres², Pierre Lebigre

¹Ph.D. student,²Associate Professor, National Institute of Informatics, Hitotsubashi 2-1-2, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-
8430, Japan
elham@grad.nii.ac.jp
3
Professer, Ecole d’Architecture Paris Val de Seine, 14, rue Bonaparte 75006 Paris

Abstract: In this paper we study the history of Ilkhanid caravanserais based


on the historical references which directly or indirectly refer to
caravanserais in this period. We focus on the document related to
endowment of Rab-I Rashidi and the number of caravanserais mentioned in
it. Further we compare the available physical remains of Ilkhanid
caravanserais that are surveyed in the available references with the result of
historical studies. We present an innovative proposal for conceptual
evolution of caravanserais from beginning till Safavid period and we make
an analytic comparison of Ilkhanid samples. Finally we conclude with
ambiguity of evolution of caravanserais of Ilkhanid period and necessity of
field survey and excavations on Ilkhanid caravanserais with special interest
of caravanserais in Rab-I Rashidi.

1. Introduction

Caravanserais or the buildings for support of caravan’s life which “punctuated the major
historic overland routes at intervals of a day’s journey” [1] can be considered among the
most important supporting structures from caravan roads specially in Iranian architecture
as the origin of these buildings. Following the previous studies done by W. Kleisse, M.
Siroux, R. Hillenbrand, M. Kiani, P. Leigre and S. Aivazian and other scholars on this
typology of historical architecture, for analytic study of caravanserais we focus on a
comparative typology recognition of different samples belonging to different historical
periods in Iran in order to find a conceptual evolution and common language of design
between caravanserais [2].
In this regards caravanserais of Ilkhanid period is taken into close consideration, as this
historical period is very important between 2 powerful architectural periods, the Seljuk
period and the Safavid period. Furthermore it will improve the understanding of the
process of evolution of caravanserais. In the following, this paper will focus on historical
and physical study of Ilkhanid caravanserais and will compare it with the evolution of
previous and successive periods. Finally it concludes with the discussion about the
ambiguity of evolution of Ilkhanid caravanserais and the necessity of more site studies.

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2. History of Caravanserais in Ilkhanid Period
The history of caravanserais is directly related to the history and the situation of flow of
caravans in the historical roads and it can be studied through historical references
[e.g.1,3,4,5] which directly refer to a caravanserai (like travelogues or geographical
references), or indirectly refer to a powerful government which had special attention to
trade and there fore they pay attention to security of trade roads and enhancing the
supporting structures for passengers like caravanserais.
During different periods of Iranian history After Islam, Ghaznavid dynasty (994 CE-
1030), Seljuq Dynasty (1020-1092), Ilkhanid dynasty (1256-1304) and Safavid dynasty
(1502-1737) 1 can be considered the most important periods of safety and comfort of
caravan roads and built of caravanserais. The number of famous travelers of these periods,
for example Estakhri, Ebn-e-Houghal, Moghaddasi in 10th century or Ebn-e-batouteh in
13th century is an evidence for such flow of caravans in these periods[3].
Ilkhanid dynasty can be considered among the biggest dynasties in the history of Iran as
Mongols (in which their Iranian side was ruled by Hulagu Khan and his substitute) in
their utmost conquest control most of the Eurasia, from Korea to East Germany and
emphasize on the security and comfort of caravan roads [1]. In fact the reason of attention
of Mongols to safety and comfort of caravan roads is their general interest to trade (in
which was managed by big Iranian and Middle Eastern firms) on which in this period
trade of merchandise between India, China, Iran, West Europe and Rome, under a unified
power which dispense their policies was expanded [3].
Further historical references smack of safe trips of traveler between countries in this
period, such as Marcopolo and William Roubrok [1]. Marcopolo in his book while
traveling on the caravan road between Yazd and Kerman cities in Iran wrote “Yazd is a
big city… its inhabitants are Moslems and if they want to go out of the city they should
pass 8 days in which 3 places (maybe caravanserais) is built for rest of passenger[4]”.
Ibn e Batouteh in his travelogue describes places in the Kurdish clan and the services in
these places for rest of passengers and also Robat of YazdKhas (Izadkhast) on the way
from Yazd to Shiraz [5].
Historical references also refer to Ghazan Khan (1295-1304) 1 and his vizier Rashid e
ddin Fazl-o-lah who tried hard to prepare fast and easy communication through caravan
road and built of caravanserais on roads or in cities.
In letter number 51 of endowment of the great complex of Rab-i Rashidi which remains
from Rashid-e-ddin Fazl-o-lah it is mentioned “ in Rab-i Rashidi in which during your

1
http://www.on-the-matrix.com/mideast/IranTimeline.htm

2
departure we prepared the map and preliminary works for organizing and building and it
now is finished and inside it we built 24 big caravanserais, 1500 shops and 30000 fine
houses[5].”

3. Study of Physical Remains of Caravanserais in Ilkhanid Period

Caravanserais in Ilkhanid period shows a serious lack of remains comparing to what is


mentioned above in the historical references related to presence of caravanserais. Table1
shows an inventory of caravanserais mentioned to be Ilkhanid in the available references
[6, 7].
As it can be seen in this table, 13 caravanserais are mentioned to belong to Ilkhanid
period. 7 are located in the Isfahan province, 3 are Yazd-Tabas road and others to single
provinces. Mainly road caravanserais are built in a chain with the distance of a trip of a
caravan, that means around 1 Manzel, 6 Farsakh, 36 Kms [8]. Therefore each single
caravanserais from this list was part of a complex of others with the above mentioned
distance. In some cases this chain is completed (like Yazd-Tabas road) with caravanserais
to Ilkhanid period. But in other cases, like Robat-e-Sepanj, this chain is not complete.
Some of these caravanserais might be destroyed, or others might become the basis
foundation for after Ilkhand caravanserais (like Robat e Soltan).
Verifying the exact historical period of these caravanserais needs field survey and
comparison with other typologies of architectural remains of this period. As caravanserais
are mainly functional buildings they don’t have so much decorations or coverings.
Therefore it will be complicated to date exactly a caravanserais specially belonging to
pre-Safavid periods. Type of brick work or arch and vault will help with more clear
chronologic study on caravanserais of Ilkhanid period. But among the above mentioned
inventory there are some samples like Robat-e-sepanj which its brickwork and tilework is
specification of this period (Fig 1) so the doubt about its origin will be reduced. A
comparative study on material of these caravanserais shows rubble stone mixing with
brick. It is rare in the Safavid caravanserais, but it can be seen in most of Seljuk Samples
(such as Anoushirvan caravanserais in Semnan province (Fig 2) and Kaj caravanserais in
Qom province(Fig 3)).

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Table 1. Inventory of Ilkhanid caravanserais in Iran[5].
Name Location Plan type Period Building Decorations
material(s)
Dambi Natanz-Isfahan 4 iwans Ilkhanid- Stone-brick Decorative
Road Safavid towers
(or) Robat-e- Isphahan 4 iwans Saljukid- Stone-brick -
Soltan Ilkhanid-
Safavid
Chahar Abad Natanz-Isfafan Irregular Ilkhanid- Brick-stone -
road Octogonal Safavid
Chahar borj Isfahan road 4 iwans Ilkhanid Stone-brick Decorative
towers
Sangi (Qal’eh Isfahan road 4 iwans Ilkhanid Stone Decorative
sangi) towers
Sin 21 Kms north 4 iwans Ilkhanid Brick-stone Ilkhanid (730
of Isfahan A.H.)
Maghsood- Amin abad- 4 iwans Ilkhanid - Mudbrick
beig Shahreza road
Cheshme ye Yazd-Tabas 4 iwans Ilkhanid- Stone Decorative
shotoran road safavid towers
Robat e Anjire Yazd-Tabas Irregular Ilkhanid Stone
(Anjileh) road octagonal
Qaleh Yazd-Tabas 2 Iwans Ilkhanid Brick-stone 4 towers?
Mazrae- road
Karmaz
Robat e sepanj Khorasan road- 4 iwans Ilkhanid Stone-brick Brickwok-
50 Kms north tilework
of Miami
Sarcham Zanjan- 4 iwans Ilkhanid Brick-stone Stone work
Miyaneh road
Marand 13 Kms. North 4 iwans Ilkhanid Stone-brick Brickwork-
(Holago) of Marand tilework

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Fig1. Ilkhanid brickwork decoration in Sepanj caravanserais [6]

Fig2. Kaj ,Seljuk, Qom Province Fig3. Anooshirvan,Seljuk, Semnan Province

Meanwhile a comparison between the historical references about the power of Ilkhanid
dynasty and their attention to caravan roads, specially the exact documents referring to
caravanserais built by Khaje-Rahid-e-ddin in Rab-I Rashidi and the inventory of
caravanserais in this period shows a considerable gap between the number of samples
that can be expected and the existing ones. Studying the reason of such a gap is further
than this paper but here we wish to open this discussion for further
field survey and probable excavations for study and completing the inventory and
specification of Ilkhanid caravanserais.

4- Comparative Study Caravanserais in Ilkhanid Period and the Ambiguity of Evolution


of Typology
As part of our current research2 for analytic study on open, out city caravanserais of Iran
in order to track down the evolution of form and typology in caravanserais and further to

2
The research is conducted in National Institute of Informatics (NII) in Japan in cooperation with the architecture
school of Paris Val de Seine (EAPVS) in France under the “Digital Silk Roads Initiative Framework” (DSRIF) in
cooperation with UNESCO, as part of a PhD. study of the SOKENDAI university.

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reach to advanced classification of this historical relic, sample belonging to Ilkhanid
period are closely studied. Generally during different periods of creation and evolution of
Iranian caravanserais three dynasties must be taken into close consideration. Seljuk
dynasty (1020-1092), Ilkhanid dynasty (1256-1304) and Safavid dynasty (1502-1737)3.
Analytic study of remained sample of caravanserais of these 3 periods shows a deep
evolution on typology and organization of plan, especially between Seljuqid and Safavid
samples.
As it is shown in Fig 4 the general concept of Iranian caravanserais from Seljuk period
and before (even caravanserais belonging to pre Islamic period) is a set of long rooms
around a central courtyard which are distributed based on the location of 2 or 4 iwans at
the main or secondary axes of caravanserais. One of these iwans is also deduced to
entrance and entrance spaces. In some cases (like Anoushirvan caravanserais between
Semnan and Damghan cities in Iran), a rewaq (portico) is situated between the courtyard
and the rooms and acts like a filter between yard and rooms. Mainly the height of rooms
is at the same level as courtyard.

Central court yard Room and stable


Corridor Iwan Vestibule
Entrance

Fig4. General concept of Seljuk caravanserais and older periods in Iran

Further in the golden period of Iranian caravanserais (named the safavid period), this
typology will evolve so an enhanced general concept can be founded in these

3
http://www.on-the-matrix.com/mideast/IranTimeline.htm

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caravanserais. The main concept of these caravanserais are a set of little iwan as platform
with height of around 1 meter from the central courtyard and rooms behind it with the
same height, that are situated around a central courtyard and are distributed based on the
position of 2 or 4 iwans. Presence of iwans is the concept of both safavid and Seljuk or
even before Seljuk caravanserais and one entrance is located in one iwans. In these
caravanserais stables become separated from the rooms and are situated as a colonnade
with different shapes as U, T, L, I behind set of rooms and little iwans, around courtyard.
The position of entrance of iwan makes amazing variety of caravanserais belonging to
this period in such a way that from 155 studied samples in this research no 2
caravanserais are similar to each other.
But as it can be studied in the comparative representation of plans of Ilkhanid period
(those founded in the available references [5,6]) in table 2, it points out an ambiguity
about the precise typological specification. It seems in some samples, like Dambi and
chahar borj, the typology is similar to what mentioned above as the concept of Safavid
caravanserais. In this case the evolution of this typology is not considered the invention
of safavid architects but from older periods as it can be seen in Ilkhanid. Meanwhile some
other examples of this period like Maqsoob beig the typology of Seljuk caravanserais and
before showed in fig 3 can be recognized, that means rooms around courtyard with a
portico as filter between rooms and courtyard. Some other examples of this period
specially in Khorasan road like Robat e sepanj or in Marand must be characterized by
another specific typology. Unfortunately from these caravanserais only the entrance
space is remained and the general plan can not be recognized. This makes the process of
studying the position of typology of Ilkhanid caravanserais more complicated.
As a conclusion the available samples of Ilkhanid caravanserais show a serious ambiguity
of type of plan. This research is trying to find this important question that when is the real
origin of evolution of 2 specific concept of caravanserais mentioned above between
Safavid and Seljuk periods? Is it a specific innovation of Safavid architect or is it an
evolution and enhancement of Ilkhanid samples in previous periods?
This paper tried to study the current references in order to reach to a clear answer to the
above mentioned question. But it confronts with serious lack of samples trustable enough
to provide a powerful hypothesis. A precise field survey accompanied with excavations is
the only solution which can provide some answers for the above question.
Meanwhile this paper would like to discuss also about its main concern of caravanserais
of Ilkhanid period. What is mentioned in letter number 51 of endowment of the great
complex of Rab-i Rashidi about the considerable amount of caravanserais built in this
huge city complex is the most important reference that can help for analytic study of
caravanserais in Ilkhanid period and study on evolution of typology in order to complete
the above mentioned hypothesis. We hope this paper will provide new point of view to

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the discussion and could be considered as part of the analytic studies on this huge
complex and its caravanserais.
Table2. Comparative study of Ilkhanid caravanserais and ambiguity of typology
Sample of Ilkhanid Sample of Ilkhanid Sample of Ilkhanid caravanserais
caravanserais Similar to caravanserais (?) similar to that the plan is not clear (and may
Safavid concept Seljuk and older periods need excavation for more studies)
concept

Maghsood beig Sepanj


Dambi

Cheshme Shotoran Marand


Chahar Borj

Ghale Sangi Sarcham Sin

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Shotorkhan (stable)
Room Little Iwan

Yard

1: Dambi caravanserais

Room

Corridor Yard

2: Cheshme Shotoran
caravanserais

?
3 : Sin caravanserais

Fig 5: Comparative analysis


of different typologies of
Ilkhanid caravanserais

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5. Conclusion
Ilkhanid period, although follows the vast destructions of great cities of Iran like Ray,
Neishabour,etc. after the Mongol and Chengiz khan invade, but in successive rulers, like
Ghazan khan and specially his vizier Khaje Rashid e ddin fazl-ol-lah and great scholars
like khaje Nasir e ddin e Tousi, it presents flourish of Iranian architecture and specially
Azeri style in cities like Meraghe [9]. Meanwhile historical references refer to powerful
central government and their attention to road and caravans and specially trade in this
period.
Although the physical remains of Ilkhanid period only in some cases reflects this style of
architecture and regarding the number is few, but it shows an important position
regarding the evolution of caravanserais in previous and later periods (mainly Seljuk and
Safavid).
Due to lack of references and researches on caravanserais of this specific period, we
finally wish to open the main concern of this research, that means analytic study on
conceptual evolution of caravanserais in Iran and the necessity and importance of
Ilkhanid period in this regards. We wish to follow such study on field survey and on site
data collection of samples of Ilkanid caravanserais with collaboration of other experts.
References
[1] Hillenbrand-Robert, Islamic Architecture, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh,
2000, ISBN 0 7486 1379 X, PP 331-376
[2] Andaroodi, E, Andres, F, Ono,K, Lebigre,P, Developing a Visual Lexical Model for
Semantic Management of Architectural Visual Data, Design of Spatial Ontology for
Caravanserais of Silk Roads, Journal of Digital Information Management (JDIM), Dec.
2003, VOL.2, NO.4, , PP 151-160, ISSN: 0972 7272
[3] Ravandi-Morteza, Social history of Iran-economical life of Iranian people from the
beginning till today, fifth volume, Publisher: Ravandi, Morteza, 1364, Iran, PP 439- 440
[4] Marcopolo, Travelogue, translation to persian: Samimi-Habibollah, Bongah Tarjome
va nashr e ketab, Tehran, 1350, P 37
[5] Ibn e Batouteh, Travelogue, Translation to Persian: Movahhed-Mohammad ali,
scientific and cultural publication center, thirst publish, 1361, P 201
[6] W. Kleiss, M.Y. Kiani, Iranian caravanserais, Iranian cultural heritage
organisation,Tehran, 1373
[7] Pirnia- Mohammad karim, Afsar, Keramatollah, Road and Rebat, Iranian Cultural
Heritage Organization and Armin piblisher, 1370
[8] Hedin-Sven, Iranian Deserts, translation to Persian from Rajabi-Parviz, Tooka, 2535
[9] Pirnia-Mohammad karim, Styles of Iranian Architecture, Institute of promotion of
Islamic art, First edition, winter 1369- P. 197

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