Comparison of Caravanserais of Azerbaijan and Isfahan Based on Ghanli Bolagh Caravanserai in Ardabil and Madar Shah Caravanserai in Isfahan

Abstract

Iran of the Safavid period played a very important communicational role in international traffic. In this period, the northern route of the Silk Road, which was mainly a fixed route, began from China, passing through cities such as Azerbaijan and Isfahan in Iran, reached other countries, including Europe. Safavid kings, especially Shah Abbas, commanded to build a dense network of roads with numerous caravanserais for military and economic reasons. Due to the economic boom and communication with other communities such as Europe, export of a variety of goods such as silk was abundant in this period. For the prosperity of the caravan in this period, caravanserais with many roads such as Silk Road were reconstructed and built. Among these are caravansaries built in mountainous areas of Azerbaijan and central regions of Iran, especially Isfahan. The present study aims to compare the caravansaries of the two areas mentioned in terms of their plan and materials and investigate the effect of the different climate of these two regions on the construction of these buildings. According to the results of this study obtained from the case study of Ghanli Bolagh caravanserai of Azerbaijan and its comparison with Shah Madar caravanserai in Isfahan, the caravanserais of these two regions are different in terms of plans and materials that is because of the effect of different climates. Caravanserai in mountainous areas generally have a small central courtyard and a dense tissue to prevent the penetration of cold weather and building materials are mainly of stone and brick, while the caravanserais of the central region (Isfahan), for relatively dry climate, have a cistern and a large central courtyard and the main materials are clay and brick.