Karatayhan Caravanserai
East of Kayseri is Karatayhan Caravanserai which was on the silk road, specifically along the trade routes of Anatolia, in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. These routes were where the material from Persia and China were carried into Europe and vice-versa. An exuberant amount of wealth was being brought through these routes so it was in the sultans and the nobles of the empires best interests to encourage, increase and protect traders by these routes. Enormous stone buildings, called ‘Kervansarays’ meaning caravan palaces, were built approximately every 30Km along the roads. They were built to provide shelter and amenities for the traders and their animals, which could sometimes mean over 400 animals, whether it be camels, horses or donkeys. These Kervansaray’s sometimes included accommodation for traders/travellers, animal stables, water, markets, kitchens, baths, blacksmiths and an infirmary.