جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه « caravanserai » در نشریات گروه « هنر و معماری »

In the simplest definition, a caravanserai is a building that accommodates a caravan. Caravanserai is one of the most important inheritages of Iranian architecture, whose emergence in The Land of Iran has begun for many years due to its location on the East-West Commercial Highway and commercial boom, and other factors such as political, economic, military, religious and social have played a role in its development. During the Safavid era, along with the repair and construction of roads and the strengthening of the country's road network, much attention was also paid to the construction of caravan buildings. In a general classification, caravanserais are placed in two groups: suburban and inner city. Suburban caravanserais are one of the important construction elements in the communication ways of the Islamic era. Today, the margins of the roads of this land are filled with such valuable buildings have lost their former role with the emergence of modernism, changes in transportation and trade systems and they are at risk of erosion and destruction due to lack of adequate care. Therefore, recognizing this part of Iranian architecture provides the possibility of linking the present human being with the unrepeatable legacy of the past and re-educating from the precious experiences of the predecessors. In researches on the recognition of caravanserais, more attention has been paid to the physical aspects. For example, Mohammad Yousef Kiani and Wolfram Clais have discussed the climatic-physical typology, shape classification, determining the characteristics of caravanserais and introducing Iranian caravanserais by providing visual documents. Maxim Siro also studied the old roads, the buildings that were formed around them and the climatic-functional typology and introduced each of these buildings by providing documents, documents and a brief description. While the architectural values of caravanserais go back to its roots in the political, cultural and social beliefs of this land. Therefore, the present study aimed to explain socio-political values as an important part of non- Physical values of caravanserais in order to recognize and protect these buildings and it has done by asking the question of what socio-political values can be recall in suburban caravanserai of the central plateau of Iran, especially in the Safavid era?. This research is qualitative-historical in terms of nature. In this article, according to the nature of the research, the integrated research method has been used. This means that in the first stage, which aims to explain the meaning and concept of value in human sciences, the descriptive-analytical research method has been used. Therefore, first, qualitative data about value issues are extracted, inferred and classified using written library document resources in the field of humanities and the opinions of experts in these field. In the next stage, which aims to explain political-social values, with a descriptive-historical method, first to collect information based on library sources and researches of late researchers, as well as visual and written documents left from the past such as travelogues, as well as field observations, then the obtained information is analyzed by inductive reasoning method and the different aspects of the political-social values of the caravanserais are explained and a conclusion is made. Finally, based on these studies, the political values of caravanserais based on the levels of political values of Almond et al., in three levels, were explained, which include: system (system maintenance and adaptability), process (effective participation in political events, compliance and support and justice) and policy making (quantitative and qualitative welfare, individual security) and nationalism and freedom). Also, social values of these buildings, based on Schwartz's theory, have been presented based on five concepts of security, tradition, conformity, altruism and redemption.

Problem statement: 

Caravanserais are among the most important types of historical architecture that have played a major role in trade. Among the main uses of Caravanserais, we can mention security about trips, temporary accommodation for passers-by, storage of goods for merchants, and taking care of their animals along their routes. Many researchers have paid attention to caravansaries structure, unless expanding cliodynamics in historical analysis, it wasn’t possible to find proportions between physical features of caravansaries and social behaviors about caravansaries. So this research tries to answer the current question: how can the physical spaces of Caravanserais influence preferences of business trips?

Therefore, the present article aims to propose a mathematical method that estimates business trip potentials relevant to caravansaries physical features.

This research is descriptive analysis method, using the library study and quantitative analysis. Also, in a case study, a quasi-experimental strategy was used with 3D simulations in 3D Max software and volumetric analysis in Rhino software. Within this context, an explanation of a formula, which has been tested in 16 case studies and 14 simulated trips. 

The results of this research have led to the explanation that Isfahan city in the Safavid era was the main destination of business trips, and the Kerman city was the origin of trips that lead to Isfahan. On the other hand, by paying more attention to the Silk Roadways, it became clear that the trade ring flowed from today’s Pakistan to Isfahan, and from this city to the northwest, northeast, and south of Iran.

Iran's unique geographical position, as a crossroad between various Eastern and Western civilizations, has made it a significant land with important routes throughout different historical periods. Caravanserais, which some of them are registered in the UNESCO list of World Heritage, are an important heritage of historic roads. In the route of the Khorasan or Eastern highway, a branch is located in the north of Khorasan. The historical route from Jorjan to Nishapur has been a point of reference since the 4th to 9th centuries. Only a few caravanserais in Iran remain from before the Safavid period. Since chain caravanserais were likely built simultaneously due to their continuous function of providing shelter for travelers, their chain analysis holds a special position in the studies of architectural patterns. In this research, firstly, using interpretive-historical methods, the route, resting places, and caravanserais from the 4th century onwards were identified. In the next step, relying on the theory of Space Syntax and the resulting justified graphs, the spatial relations of these caravanserais were analyzed, and the governing patterns of these relations were interpreted using logical reasoning methods. The findings indicate that the entrance point to the buildings is unique and serves as the main gateway. Hashti or octagonal vestibule serves as a pivotal communication space in the intermediate area. The stable has access through Hashti, and the tower has access through the stable. Hashti is connected to the entrance courtyard. The rooms are arranged around the courtyard, with the iwan (semi-open vaulted hall in the middle of each side of the rectangular courtyard) serving as the pivotal space between the rooms and the courtyard. The distinguishing feature of the buildings is the presence of additional sections such as the stable and their method of connection to Hashti. Thus, while following a unified pattern, the layout of these buildings is unique for each structure, with considerations such as the number of rooms, Hashti, and stable shape.

During the Qajar period, relations between Iran and European countries expanded. Since the commercial and political highway, from the capital of the Qajar state in Tehran to Bandar Anzali on the northern border, was considered a strategic passage in the communication network of Iran with Russia and Europe, fundamental changes in the implementation of road construction operations, including the repair, development, establishment and equipping of inter-road places was necessary. Among them, the oldest and most important service places for travelers have been caravanserais. The main purpose of this research is the typology of architecture, the influence of the role of climatic conditions and geographical location in the process of architectural formation of caravanserais on the Tehran Anzali route.The findings have been researched based on library sources and field archaeology. The method of data analysis is qualitative. The results of the data show that the largest number of caravanserais were out-of-town in terms of typology. The variety of climatic conditions of the route has not been adapted to the form and architectural features of caravanserais. Although the different geographical location has caused minor differences in the architectural elements of some of them, all these types of caravanserais were built following the same architectural pattern as the four-porch caravanserais with courtyards of the Safavid period.A small number of other caravanserais were of the inner-city type. Their architectural structure and form was in accordance with the geography and climate of the regions where they were located.

Ribat-i Sepanj, located on the northeast of Shahrud, is among the valuable historical monuments boasting magnificent brickwork ornamentation. It dates from the middle centuries of the hegira and is mentioned in most research sources as a construction of the Ilkhanid period. A closer look at the history of the monument and the comparison of its decorations with that of a number of other caravanserais and monuments of the middle centuries of Islam raises the idea that it dates back to the pre-Mongol era. However, it is not easy to date the monument because many parts of the original building are destroyed and only the entrance and the enclosure wall remain in their original form. Although the original plan is recognizable in the form of the central courtyard, the construction of rural houses in the courtyard greatly distorted the plan in later periods. This study aims to determine the time of the initial construction of the Ribat-i Sepanj, and to answer the main question: can the Ribat-i Sepanj be considered a construction of the pre-Mongol invasion according to the available evidence and historical-comparative studies? The method of conducting this study, due to the limitations of field research (especially excavation and tracking) focuses on three main items: first, studying the monument based on historical sources and previous research works; second, studying the ornamentation and comparing it with similar other samples from contemporary monuments; and third, conducting a comparative study of the available evidence remaining of the plan and entrance of the monument with those of the well-known examples of contemporary caravanserais (specifically from the Seljuq and Ilkhanid period). Finally, although most researchers consider Ribat-i Sepanj to be an Ilkhanid monument, the present study finds that the monument recognizably dates from the pre-Mongol invasion, and the closest historical period attribution is the late Seljuq era.

Space syntax is a set of methods and theories that study how the configuration structure of space, organization, and social behaviors interact. Examining the spatial layout is one of the basic strategies for evaluating the usages of any building. This issue is especially evident in historical buildings because the technique of space syntax and drawing justification diagrams makes it possible to analyze the spatial relationships of buildings. Shah Abbasi Caravanserai has long centuries history and has had different uses in different periods. This article examines the spatial arrangement of Shah Abbasi Caravanserai, located in Karaj, in the Safavid and Qajar periods by using the space syntax technique. Also, by considering the change of Shah Abbasi Caravanserai's use to a school in the Qajar period, it seeks to answer the main question: to what extent did the new use correspond to the spatial relations of Shah Abbasi Caravanserai? What are the advantages and disadvantages of changing this user? To answer this question, first, using the descriptive-analytical method and library studies and field surveys, the spatial arrangement of Shah Abbasi Caravanserai in the Safavid and Qajar periods has been studied. Then, drawing diagrams using the space syntax technique and analyzing them based on various influential factors was done. The research result was concluded through analyzing data and comparing the justification diagrams with school diagrams in the Qajar period, indicating that the new spatial arrangement of Shah Abbasi Caravanserai in the Qajar era was done as a result of changing the use to the school. Also, despite some disadvantages because of this change, including a lack of attention to proper access hierarchy, ventilation, and proportions, it is compatible with the spatial relationships of schools of that time to a large extent.

Due to the type of function, caravanserais are considered as important buildings in Iranianarchitecture. Research has mostly examined their functional features but caravanserais alsohave aesthetic aspects. Aesthetic analysis can be examined in two aspects: the body of thebuilding and their decoration. As such, based on the importance of caravanserai architecturein the history of Iran, it is necessary to be aware of the developments related to the proportionsof these building in different historical periods. In this regard, in order to find out the evolutionof proportions of Iranian caravanserais, the proportions of caravanserais in the central parts ofIran during the Safavid and Qajar eras have been compared. In this research, data collectionwas conducted through library research as well as examining numerous articles publishedin scientific journals, and data analysis was performed using statistical analysis methods,adopting R and SPSS software. In order to investigate the hypothesis of similarity ordissimilarity of the proportions of caravanserais in central areas of Iran during the Safavid andQajar eras, 12 samples from the Qajar era and 12 samples from the Safavid era were selectedby cluster sampling from different locations. After measuring the dimensions of each sample,the normality of the data was evaluated using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Finally, the datawere verified to be normal. Then, due to the normality of the data, a parametric statistical test(Levene’s Test for Equality of Variances and t-test) was used to finalize the test hypotheses. Atthe end, after performing the aforementioned test, considering that the significance level forthe variables and proportions examined at the confidence level of %95, was more than .05, thehypothesis of similarity of proportions of central Iranian caravanserais during the Safavid andQajar eras was accepted. Based on the obtained results and considering that numerous textsand articles refer to the Safavid era as the golden age of the establishment of caravanserais inIran, during the Qajar era, the construction of caravanserais in the central regions of Iran alsoutilized the same pattern of proportions used in Safavid caravanserais.

Problem statement:

 Kufic inscriptions of Islamic architecture are considered the ancient era masterpieces of Iran and the Islamic world. Some of the Caravanseries in Razavi Khorasan province are counted among superb monuments in terms of decorations and architecture. However, the antiquity of some of them has not yet been well analyzed. Monumental inscriptions are often the most outstanding architectural elements that can direct the researchers through their endeavors from various viewpoints. Therefore, we deemed it critical to review the inscriptions under the study in terms of the scripts, objectives, various calligraphy types, etc., and determine their impacts on the identity of the monuments of interest.

This study tries to comparatively review the inscriptions, scan the obscure ones, and correct the erroneous scanning of some others. In this spirit, the authors focused their efforts on presenting advice on the recreation of the inscriptions found at Robat (a small fortification built along a frontier) Mahi excavation site. They determined some of the monuments’ ages through a critical approach toward inscriptions scanning by employing the surviving texts and shreds of evidence.

The present study was conducted through survey and archeological research methods. First, the inscriptions were recorded using the survey investigations. Then it was attempted to accurately identify the events of the past to further clarify the historical, political, and economic identities of the monuments under investigation through library research, verification of the firsthand resources, evidence gathered by the past photographers, and then through data analysis and classification, following the historical approach.

This study revealed that the writing structure of the Kufic inscriptions was based on the early Kufic scripts with diverse writing styles and that the artists have employed the decoration factor in conveying their message. The placement of the inscriptions in the predetermined spaces is in abundant congruity and harmony with their associated monuments. A reason for inscribing the scripts has been to serve religious purposes. Some advice was then made for age determination of Caravanseries of Ziarat, Mahi, and Sharaf sites after scanning and reading some of the inscriptions.

Road development has been one of the requirement for economic development in any historical period. In the old days, caravanserais were built for various reasons because of the vastness of Iran and the need to establish connections between different cities. These construction came in over years for a variety of reasons. These building had other functions rather than providing only a systematic opportunity for travellers and caravans which is taking rest, and also to exchange comes to examine in the possibility of turning it into a historical landscape which is used in tourism, data collection has been done through documentary technique and library studies by examining authentic magazines and books about the caravanserais. In this analysis, through the subject landscape, the functions of the caravanserai are identified and the functions are divided into eleven main categories. By analyzing these functions, it seems that the caravanserais, by their congruent function in different periods of time, have been able to have a special place in the economic, cultural and commercial processes. The narrative of the landscapes functions provides appropriate capacity to create a single tourism aspect and destination.

A study of the Safavid history shows that security can be a factor in the emergence of political authority and can directly affect trade and the economy. The concept of defense is of two types, active defense and passive defense. Although both have the same goals, their methods are very different. The purpose of this study is to study the caravanserais of the Safavid period from the perspective of passive defense. The study adopts a positivist approach to the subject in terms of research methodology, and, in terms of the purpose, it is based on comparative descriptions. The variables obtained based on documentary studies are the geographical location and importance of the roads, the plan forms (including rectangular and polygonal courtyards and introverted and extroverted roofed spaces), elements related to passive defense (including number of entrances, guard rooms and watchtowers) and physical analysis (including depth of access to rooms and the number of spatial layers). These variables focus on passive security and defense. Totally, 43 Safavid caravanserais are classified into four groups (rectangular with a courtyard, polygon with a courtyard, roofed introverted and roofed extroverted spaces), and the principles of passive defense are examined in them. The results show that rectangular and polygonal courtyard caravanserais as well as introverted indoor caravanserais have many similarities in terms of using physical elements for security. Extroverted indoor caravanserais, on the other hand, have different characteristics from other the types. In fact, the study shows that, mainly in areas where the natural elements of passive defense (such as mountains and rivers) do not exist and (for various reasons) agent defense is not justified or impossible, the architect has tried to provide most of the physical elements of security and passive defense against possible attacks by reducing entrances, creating a guard rooms and watchtowers, and increasing the depth of access and the number of layers of space as much as possible. In addition, the strategic position of the Persian Gulf coastal roads and the important role of these trade routes at the level of trade and economy of the country have made it necessary for the governments to ensure their security as an agent of defense. Therefore, in the caravanserais of this region, maintaining less security has been entrusted to the body of architecture. The results generally show that the variety of active defense and passive defense factors in caravanserais depends on the geographical location, the importance of the routes, and the architectural form of the caravanserais.

Villages are the first type of communal life throughout a natural arena and known as the cornerstone of production for biological needs, which is based on group work and mass production. Such a society requires communal spaces for preparing the required space for interactions, the partnership of different groups, information transfer, and improving interactions and social relations. Communal space is a physical setting to encounter with the social life. These spaces with their roles in improving the life quality could trigger the continuity of life in rural areas. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the factors contributing to the quality of communal open space in rural settlements, which has prepared in the case study in Abbas Abad village in Shahrud. The place, in addition to the role of a way stations, has a socio-cultural position in the life of residents. The Abbas Abad Caravanserai and the fabric of the village are integrated, in a way that despite their special performance are interdependent. The yard of this caravanserai is known as the main square and communal space of the village and is the place for collective events and daily activities of the residents. This feature distinguished the caravanserai as a unique sample. This study is descriptive-analytical, in terms of method and qualitative, in terms of type of research. Data were gathered through available documents in the literature of communal space. To reach the objective, the communal space initially studied generally, then the rural settlements were considered. To achieve the qualitative principles of rural communal space is limited due to lack of enough literature in this field. The urban and rural space, despite some differences in nature, have some similarities since they are the living space. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the qualitative principles of urban and rural communal space have some commonalities. Such that some qualitative principles of urban communal space could be used for preserving the natural values of village and for improving the rural society. Among these studies and based on the initial observations in the area under study, the qualitative criteria of communal spaces were detected and after the general classification, the mutual concepts were extracted. Then, by designing a conceptual method of the study and by adapting the qualitative criteria and the proposed method, four components, namely “functional”, “experimental-aesthetic”, “social”, “and “environmental” and 23 criteria were defined. After the formation of the theoretical foundation, the study is carried out in the field research and survey area using data collection tools, observation, questionnaire, and in-depth interview with rural people. The size of the statistical sample at 95% level of confidence should be 209 people (based on the Cochran formula) to be able to generalize the sample of the study to the entire statistical population. The reliability of the questionnaire, based on Cronbach's alpha, is 0.9, which is indicative of its high reliability. The obtained results were analyzed using the SPSS Software and different statistical methods, including average data, one sample T-test, and Freidman test. Results indicate that the communal space of Abbas Abad village, which is formed in the yard of the Caravanserai, should have some qualities, like “economic self-reliance”, “mixed uses”, “walkability”, “integration of building with fabric”, “flexibility”, “safety  and security”, “attracting traveler and pilgrims”, “physical permeability”, “inclusiveness”, “climate comfort”, “attention to context”, “efficiency”, “respect to building,s authenticity”, “legibility”, “sensory richness”, “visual permeability”, “identity and sense of place”, “collective memory”, “strengthening rural character”, “local management and participation”, “sociability”, “link to nature” and “environmental cleanliness”. By applying these criteria in the yard of the Caravanserai and by establishing the collective life, we would be able to distinguish the role of this building in everyday life of rural people.

The historical route of Bandar Abbas to Lar is a complex consisting of components and elements that has been working in an integrated and interconnected manner. Investigating this route and associated buildings (caravanserais, water reservoirs, etc.) from the historical periods of Safavid and Qajar to the present time, as well as studying various travelogues in this field, shows the importance and position of this route throughout history and especially the Safavid time. In addition to its economic importance, it has also had special political, cultural and social significance. Many tourists have provided detailed descriptions and explanations on this route and its features, as well as the caravanserais and accommodations along the route in their travelogues. This route was also one of the most important routes in Iran (the spice route) that connected ports and islands of the south to the center, especially Isfahan which was the capital in that time. The current route from Bandar-Abbas to Lar is 161 km long, located in the west of Hormozgan province. Approximately 70% of this route is located in Bandar Khamir city and the rest is located in Fars province. This main and inter-provincial route is located on the same historical route with a slight change. According to the current situation a list composed of caravanserais along this route, with their old names, has been prepared, in order of location from Bandar Abbas to Lar. This list is prepared on the basis of Sadid al-Saltanah-Kababi-Bandar-Abbasi’s travelogue, a native writer of the late Qajar period. All caravanserais and related water reservoirs are carefully identified through field and library methods, in terms of their location in relative to the route and other caravanserais, registration status in the list of national monuments, adaptation with the items mentioned in the studies conducted during previous years, and comparative comparison with the other caravanserais located in the province. Despite the large number of caravanserais on this route, only two types of plans can be seen, one type as a central courtyard with rooms around; and the second type of caravanserais with smaller dimensions in form of a cross plan without stables, docks and fences with low facilities. The main purpose of this research is to investigate and identify the historical route of Bandar Abbas to Lar and its related elements as well as caravanserais, their location in relation to the current route and typology according to the architectural features. In the current situation, the intended caravanserais are in similar conditions in terms of being located along the new Bandar Abbas to Lar route, physical condition, use and the damage level. The caravanserais, which are located outside the urban and rural areas, have been completely abandoned and destroyed. Out of 16 caravanserais along the intended historical route, which are given in the categories, only 7 caravanserais have been registered on the list of national monuments.

The need for a shelter has made people not always neglect that, even during the journey.
Nowadays, with the arrival of industry in the country and the use of motor vehicles, caravansaries have lost their initial boom and remaining obsolete make them deserted, and some other have been changed their usage and have became  passage, parking, warehouse etc. In the past, especially in the Safavi era, which coincided with the golden age and the flourishing of the construction of Iranian caravansaries, caravansaries have been a safe haven for travelers and merchants. The study of caravansaries in the Safavi era is important because it has unique features that the most obvious of them are plentiful reconstructive activity in the field of roads and especially construction of this building. The present study uses library studies and field visits. Using a deductive method, the typology of caravansaries and the basis of their spatial structure are examined in response to individual and social needs and physical characteristics. It is possible to achieve spatial and physical patterns for the development and revitalization of destructive caravansaries, and to revitalize and give new uses to them.