Trade Constructions in Oriental and Golgen Horde Towns

Abstract

The article considers trade constructions located in Oriental countries. According to written sources, markets or bazaars represented the most important institutions in medieval Oriental towns. At the same time, they were not only used for sales and purchases, but also served various public functions. The architectural forms of Oriental bazaars established in a rather early historical period. Their basic unit was a shop, or dukkan. Oriental markets consisted of individual dukkans arranged in groups on the basis of various criteria (Taks, Tims and Chorsu). A distinctive feature of the layout of Taks and Chorsu is a central dome composition, whereas the Tims are characterized by a sectional structure which can be arranged in the form of linear passages or courtyard complexes. Certain similarity with the Central Asian Tims with a linear arrangement is demonstrated by Minor Asian covered markets - Bidestans. As indirectly evidenced by studies conducted in Urgench, trading streets (Tims) were present in the towns of the Golden Horde. Trade buildings of capital construction resembling the bidestans of Minor Asia in terms of arrangement have been discovered in Bolgar, and presumably in Old Orhei.

Keywords

• archaeology
• architecture
• Oriental countries
• Golden Horde
• trade
• shops
• markets
• trade buildings