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65-591: The Darajani Market (or Bazaar ) is the main bazaar in Stone Town , Zanzibar . It is also known as Estella Market (after Countess Estella, sister of Lloyd Mathews , Prime Minister of Zanzibar) and informally as Marikiti Kuu (in swahili , "main market"). The market is located in Darajani Road, in the surroundings of the Anglican Cathedral of Christ . The main structure of the market

130-409: A funduq , khān , samsara , or wakāla . They could serve a variety of functions including an inn for travelers and merchants, a manufacturing center, a trade venue, or a warehouse. In Iran and Central Asia, the permanent bazaar is likewise in the centre of a city and had common architectural elements. These bazaars acted as financial centers of the city and were traditionally overseen by

195-539: A Painter in the Atlas and the Anti-Atlas published in 1922 Types of markets, bazaars and souks: Markets and retail in general: Charity bazaar Charity bazaars were temporary markets almost exclusively organized and run by women. Patrons would donate goods to sell at the bazaar, and then purchase goods which had been donated by other patrons, with some items being purchased and donated cyclically. Critics of

260-710: A book of travels titled From the Black Sea through Persia and India. Other notable painters in the Orientalist genre who included scenes of street life and market-based trade in their work are Jean-Léon Gérôme Delacroix (1824–1904), Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps (1803–1860), Frederic Leighton (1830–1896), Eugène Alexis Girardet 1853–1907 and William Holman Hunt (1827–1910), who all found inspiration in Oriental street scenes, trading and commerce. A proliferation of both Oriental fiction and travel writing occurred during

325-566: A permanent structure containing shops. English place names usually translate "çarşı" (shopping district in a downtown or downtown itself) as "bazaar" when they refer to an area with covered streets or passages. The word "souk" in the Arabic-speaking world is roughly equivalent to "bazaar". The Arabic word is a loan from Aramaic "šūqā" ("street, market"), itself a loanword from the Akkadian "sūqu" ("street"). The Arabic word sūq

390-595: A relationship with their recipients, in contrast to newspaper advertisements, which petitioned for donations impersonally. At the time, theatre actresses had a changing reputation. Actresses sold goods along with high-class women, which helped the actress's reputation. Charity bazaars were sometimes planned out years in advance, though experienced planners needed as little as four months to plan an event. For most institutions, charity bazaars were an infrequent but effective supplement to charity balls, collection boxes, and subscriptions. Women helped to plan charity bazaars. In

455-431: A shilling for a "woman of fashion" to lick and affix a penny stamp to an envelope. According to Catherine Hindson, this kind of activity upended the distinct separation between the public and private spheres defining Victorian social order. Members of the upper class frequently bought and sold items at charity bazaars. The casual fraternization of the sexes at these events alarmed some observers, particularly that between

520-500: A social function as being a place for people to meet in, in addition to its commercial function. In pre-Islamic Arabia, two types of souks existed: permanent urban markets and temporary seasonal markets. The temporary seasonal markets were held at specific times of the year and became associated with particular types of produce. Suq Hijr in Bahrain was noted for its dates while Suq 'Adan was known for its spices and perfumes. In spite of

585-489: A successful charity bazaar met with opposition and disapproval. This disapproval persisted; in 1861 Cornhill Magazine stated that women working in charity bazaars used feminine "coaxing" and "insinuating" to persuade buyers. In 1870 and 1880, Judy stated that charity bazaars "covered a multitude of swindling". The women who forcefully persuaded customers to buy their products were called "bazaar harpies". In George Augustus Sala 's 1894 novel Up to Date , buyers could pay

650-501: A unique shopping experience, charity bazaars also entertained attendees with puppet shows, plays, and fortune-telling. Charity bazaars also sold limited edition publications. An 1839 example of a publication made for a bazaar included poetry and artwork by young people. In the 19th century, charity bazaars, or "fancy faires", used elaborate sets and actresses in a party-like atmosphere. People of all ages, genders, and classes intermixed. This style of charity bazaar grew less popular in

715-482: A veil was a particularly tempting subject because she was hidden from view, adding to her mysterious allure. Notable artists in the Orientalist genre include: Jean-Léon Gérôme Delacroix (1824–1904), Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps (1803–1860), Frederic Leighton (1830–1896), Eugène Alexis Girardet 1853-1907 and William Holman Hunt (1827–1910) who all found inspiration in Oriental street scenes, trading and commerce. French painter Jean-Étienne Liotard visited Istanbul in

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780-526: Is Al Mirbid just outside Basra , also famed for its poetry competitions in addition to its storytelling activities. Temporary souks tended to become known for specific types of produce. For example, Suq Hijr in Bahrain was noted for its dates while Suq 'Adan was known for its spices and perfumes. Political, economic and social changes have left only the small seasonal souks outside villages and small towns, primarily selling livestock and agricultural products. Weekly markets have continued to function throughout

845-530: Is a marketplace consisting of multiple small stalls or shops, especially in the Middle East , the Balkans , Central Asia , North Africa and South Asia . They are traditionally located in vaulted or covered streets that have doors on each end and served as a city's central marketplace. The term bazaar originates from Persian , where it referred to a town's public market district. The term bazaar

910-701: Is known due to the lack of archaeological evidence. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Europeans conquered and excavated parts of North Africa and the Levant. These regions now make up what is called the Middle East, but in the past were known as the Orient. Europeans sharply divided peoples into two broad groups – the European West and the East or Orient ; us and the other. Europeans often saw Orientals as

975-530: Is mid-century example of the genre. Byron's Oriental Tales, is another example of the Romantic Orientalism genre. Although these works were purportedly non-fiction, they were notoriously unreliable. Many of these accounts provided detailed descriptions of market places, trading and commerce. Examples of travel writing include: Les Mysteres de L'Egypte Devoiles by Olympe Audouard published in 1865 and Jacques Majorelle 's Road Trip Diary of

1040-417: Is sometimes also used to refer collectively to the merchants , bankers and craftsmen who work in that area. The term souk comes from Arabic and refers to marketplaces in the Middle East and North Africa. Although the lack of archaeological evidence has limited detailed studies of the evolution of bazaars, the earliest evidence for the existence of bazaars or souks dates to around 3000 BCE . Cities in

1105-918: Is the Khan al-Mirjan in Baghdad, built in 1359 as part of a larger architectural complex. Muhammad's prohibition against constructing permanent buildings and levying taxes in the market began to be disregarded as early as the Umayyad period (7th to 8th centuries). The Umayyad caliphs Mu'awiya I and Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik both built structures in the market of Medina and levied taxes there, while purpose-built markets were built in early Islamic cities further abroad such as Basra in Iraq , Fustat in Egypt, and Kairouan in Tunisia. This process seems to have accelerated during

1170-535: The Ottoman Empire (14th to 20th centuries), the construction of commercial buildings in and around the bazaar was often sponsored by sultans, ruling elites, or by members of the Ottoman royal family . The revenues generated by these buildings were typically earmarked to support the upkeep of religious complexes sponsored by these same patrons, through the legal framework of a waqf (legal endowment). In

1235-669: The Selimiye Mosque complex in Edirne or the Sultanahmet Mosque complex in Istanbul. The Spice Bazaar or Mısır Çarşısı ('Egyptian Market') in Istanbul is also one of the largest and best-known examples. The han is similar in function to other khān or caravanserai buildings elsewhere, with a courtyard enclosed by two storeys. The ground floor was usually used for storage and for stabling horses, while

1300-582: The gold souk , the texitle souk, the spice souk, the leather souk, the booksellers' souk, etc. This promotes competition among sellers and helps buyers easily compare prices. Merchants specialized in each trade were also organized into guilds , which provided support to merchants but also to clients. The exact details of the organizations varied from region to region. Each guild had rules that members were expected to follow, but they were loose enough to allow for competition. Guilds also fulfilled some functions similar to trade unions and were able to negotiate with

1365-683: The kedkhoda in Istanbul or the amir-i bazariyan in Delhi . In the Maghreb (northwestern Africa), the muḥtasib also shared responsibilities with other officials such as the qadi or the hakim . Permanent bazaars were established in urban zones, usually within the city walls and close to the heart of the city. In much of the Middle East and North Africa, the bazaar is a network of interconnected spaces, including streets and buildings, with diverse architectural forms. Its boundaries are not sharply defined and can vary according to circumstance, as

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1430-679: The 17th century and painted pastels of Turkish domestic scenes. British painter John Frederick Lewis who lived for several years in a traditional mansion in Cairo, painted highly detailed works showing realistic genre scenes of Middle Eastern life. Edwin Lord Weeks was a notable American example of a 19th-century artist and author in the Orientalism genre. His parents were wealthy tea and spice merchants who were able to fund his travels and interest in painting. In 1895 Weeks wrote and illustrated

1495-568: The 1880s. A larger-scale event called the Press Bazaar occurred in 1898. The Press Bazaar offered limited-edition items. In 1899 the next big bazaar was the Charing Cross Hospital Bazaar, which had a bar with bartenders who were men, and several popular actresses, including Maud Beerbohm Tree and Mary Cora Urquhart . Women worked in many different parts of a typical charity bazaar. In 1826, women who worked at

1560-481: The 18th and 19th centuries, Western interest in oriental culture led to the publication of many books about daily life in Middle Eastern countries. Souks, bazaars and the trappings of trade feature prominently in paintings and engravings, works of fiction and travel writing. Shopping at a bazaar or market-place remains a central feature of daily life in many Middle-Eastern and South Asian cities and towns and

1625-935: The Arab world. Most of them are named from the day of the week on which they are held. They usually have open spaces specifically designated for their use inside cities. Examples of surviving markets are the Wednesday Market in Amman that specializes in the sale of used products, the Ghazl market held every Friday in Baghdad specializing in pets; the Fina’ Market in Marrakech offers performance acts such as singing, music, acrobats and circus activities. In tribal areas, where seasonal souks operated, neutrality from tribal conflicts

1690-717: The East, however many artists relied heavily on their everyday experiences for inspiration in their artworks. For example, Charles D'Oyly , who was born in India, published the Antiquities of Dacca featuring a series of 15 engraved plates of Dacca [now Dhaka, Bangladesh] featuring scenes of markets, commerce, buildings and streetscapes. European society generally frowned on nude painting – but harems, concubines and slave markets, presented as quasi-documentary works, satisfied European desires for pornographic art. The Oriental female wearing

1755-528: The Middle East and in the Indian subcontinent. In North American and Europe, the English word "bazaar" can denote more generically a shop or market selling miscellaneous items. It can also refer in particular to a sale or fair to raise money for charitable purposes (e.g. charity bazaar ). In Turkish , the word was borrowed as pazar , but it refers to an outdoor market held at regular intervals, not

1820-508: The Middle East, the bazaar is considered to be "the beating heart of the city and a symbol of Islamic architecture and culture of high significance." Today, bazaars are popular sites for tourists and some of these ancient bazaars have been listed as world heritage sites or national monuments on the basis of their historical, cultural or architectural value. The Medina of Fez , Morocco , which includes numerous long market streets (e.g. Tala'a Kebira ) and bazaar areas (e.g. Kissariat al-Kifah ),

1885-636: The Spanish corruption socco is often used as in the Grand Socco and Petit Socco of Tangiers . In Israel , the term shuk or shuq ( Hebrew : שׁוּק , romanized :  šūq ) shares a common Aramaic origin of the Arabic souk , and holds a prominent role in everyday life. Markets such as Mahane Yehuda in Jerusalem are often covered rows of stalls much like those seen elsewhere in

1950-418: The ancient Middle East appear to have contained commercial districts. Later, in the historic Islamic world , bazaars typically shared in common certain institutions, such as the position of the muḥtasib , and certain architectural forms, such as roofed streets and courtyard buildings known in English as caravanserais . The exact details of their evolution and organization varied from region to region. In

2015-399: The bazaar is closely integrated with its urban surroundings and with other important institutions of the city. Although there is great variety among the bazaars of this region, there are three recurring elements, in addition to the general network of market streets. One element is the individual shops or booths that line each side of a market street. The shops are usually small spaces open to

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2080-577: The bazaar remains the beating heart of West Asian and South Asian life; in the Middle East, souks tend to be found in a city's old quarter. Bazaars and souks are often important tourist attractions. A number of bazaar districts have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites due to their historical and/or architectural significance. The origin of the word "bazaar" comes from New Persian bāzār , from Middle Persian wāzār , from Old Persian wāčar , from Proto-Indo-Iranian *wahā-čarana . The term spread from Persian into Arabic, now used throughout

2145-554: The bazaar to economic life and the prominence of marketplace terminology in the Quran , not much is known about the early history of bazaars and it remains a topic of ongoing research. Most of the surviving urban commercial structures in the Islamic world date from the 16th century or later, though some preserved urban caravanserais (commonly known as a funduq , khān , or wakāla ) date from earlier periods. The oldest of these

2210-428: The case of smaller bazaars, women generally had complete control over the proceedings; with larger bazaars, men often controlled the planning committees. In the case of the 1859 Leeds Institute Bazaar, a series of conflicts between the ladies' committee and the gentlemen's committee showed that the men on the executive committee seriously underestimated the importance of negotiating with women to be patronesses and to mind

2275-538: The centrality of the Middle East in the history of souks, relatively little is known due to the lack of archaeological evidence. However, documentary sources point to permanent marketplaces in cities from as early as 550 BCE. According to traditional Muslim narratives, Muhammad established a market place ( sūq ) in Medina shortly after arriving there during the Hijrah in 622 CE. He designated an open, unbuilt space as

2340-486: The charity bazaar argued that selling "sham goods" like tea cozies and pen wipers took business away from legitimate merchants. However, charity bazaars allowed women to display their domestic and decorative artistry. Additionally, they sold items that were for sale in commercial bazaars. Churches used charity bazaars as a way to raise funds, though some religious leaders criticized the materialism and false piety they felt charity bazaars encouraged. In addition to providing

2405-638: The cities that developed under the Ottoman Empire, there was generally one central bazaar area, known in Turkish as the çarşı . The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul , known locally as the Kapalıçarşı ('covered market'), is a famous example. Additionally, several types of market structures were common: the bedesten , the arasta , and the han (Turkish cognate of khān ). The Ottoman bedesten

2470-576: The early modern period. Many English visitors to the Orient wrote narratives around their travels. British Romantic literature in the Orientalism tradition has its origins in the early eighteenth century, with the first translations of The Arabian Nights (translated into English from the French in 1705–08). The popularity of this work inspired authors to develop a new genre, the Oriental tale. Samuel Johnson's History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia, (1759)

2535-416: The early modern period. Many of these works were lavishly illustrated with engravings of every day scenes of Oriental lifestyles, including scenes of market places and market trade. Artists focused on the exotic beauty of the land – the markets, caravans and snake charmers. Islamic architecture also became favorite subject matter. Some of these works were propaganda designed to justify European imperialism in

2600-620: The existence of market districts in ancient Mesopotamia . Markets centers must have existed in Egypt to conduct international trade, but no archeological evidence for them has been found. In Achaemenid Persia (550–330 BCE), documents indicate that crafts were sold in markets close to Persepolis. A network of bazaars had sprung up alongside ancient caravan trade routes. Bazaars located along these trade routes, formed networks, linking major cities with each other and in which goods, culture, people and information could be exchanged. Sources from around

2665-463: The government on behalf of merchants or represent their interests when needed. Though each neighbourhood within the city would have a local souk selling food and other essentials, the main bazaar was one of the central structures of a large city, selling durable goods, luxuries and providing services such as money exchange. Workshops where goods for sale are produced (in the case of a merchant selling locally-made products) are typically located away from

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2730-482: The growing importance of the suburbs and the commercial districts resulted in most of them being enclosed within newly expanded city walls. From the 10th century onward, the bazaar became the financial center of a city and was heavily patronized and developed by ruling elites. The grouping of a bazaar, citadel, and Friday mosque also became more common. In the Mamluk Sultanate (13th to 16th centuries) and in

2795-426: The main character, Ethel, successfully raises money for and helps teach at a school for the children of Cocksmoor. When the school becomes the benefactor of a local charity bazaar, Ethel objects to the market mentality that charity bazaars engender. Theatre actresses frequently helped with charity bazaars, which helped to blur the boundaries between their on- and off-stage personalities. Actresses helped donors have

2860-465: The market and carried on trade, while the men remain at home weaving cloth. He also described The Babylonian Marriage Market . Sassanid rule in Iran was an important period for the development of urbanization and commerce. In Sassanid Iran, the bazaar was usually the heart of a town or city, where it spread outwards and affected the development of other neighbourhoods. The bazaar usually contained, or

2925-404: The market area and forbade both the construction of permanent structures and the levying of taxes in this area. Eight years later, he is said to have appointed a market inspector ( 'āmil 'alā l-sūq ), a position that likely evolved into the later muḥtasib in Islamic cities, an official in charge of overseeing public morality and regulating weights and measures. Despite the importance of

2990-412: The most prestigious and profitable trades such as jewelry, perfumes, and textiles. In order to protect these goods, the entrances to this area could be closed and locked at night or in times of danger. The other recurring element is the presence of courtyard buildings entered via a single large doorway. Often translated into English as a caravanserai , this type of building is known in different regions as

3055-435: The opposite of Western civilization; the peoples could be threatening- they were "despotic, static and irrational whereas Europe was viewed as democratic, dynamic and rational." At the same time, the Orient was seen as exotic, mysterious, a place of fables and beauty. This fascination with the other gave rise to a genre of painting known as Orientalism . A proliferation of both Oriental fiction and travel writing occurred during

3120-503: The region, selling produce, spices, halvah , and even clothing. Scholar Mohammad Gharipour has pointed out that in spite of the centrality of bazaars in Persian history, relatively little is known due to the lack of archaeological evidence. Historical records document the concept of a bazaar existing in Iran as early as 3000 BCE, where some large cities contained districts dedicated to trade and commerce. Archeological data also suggests

3185-440: The reign of Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik ( r.  724–743 ) in particular. Markets that sold the most important or expensive goods were usually located near the city's central Friday mosque . In some cities, such as Cairo and Aleppo, the main bazaar was initially focused along one important street and then progressively grew and branched off into the surrounding streets. During the Islamic period in Iran, bazaars developed along

3250-518: The same era also indicate that ancient Greeks regulated trade in areas at the center of their cities around stoa buildings. The ideas of Greek city planning were spread to the Middle East during the Seleucid period, following the conquests of Alexander the Great . The Greek historian, Herodotus , noted that in Egypt, roles were reversed compared with other cultures and Egyptian women frequented

3315-524: The same lines as those of the Sassanid period. Up to the 11th century, the bazaar developed more commonly in the suburbs outside the city walls that enclosed the shahristān , the formal city. This was especially true in Central Asia, though there were exceptions in some regions where the bazaar was grouped with the citadel and the city's Friday mosque inside the city walls. After the 11th century,

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3380-501: The souk itself. Historically, in Islamic cities, the muḥtasib was the official in charge of regulating and policing the bazaar and other aspects of urban life. They monitored things such as weights and measures, pricing, cleanliness, noise, and traffic circulation, as well as being responsible for other issues of public morality. They also investigated complaints about cheating or the quality of goods. The equivalent official could be known by other titles in different regions, such as

3445-410: The stalls. When the gentlemen's committee allowed the ladies' committee to have full control over the bazaar planning, the event was successfully carried out. When the women were able to reverse control over the proceedings, it showed how important women were in planning bazaars, and how much they valued their institutions—rather than ceding control of planning to the men, they argued that they should plan

3510-630: The state. Some Iranian bazaars are organized around one long market street from which other market streets branch off (e.g. in Isfahan or Tehran), while others are large rectangular zones with a grid-like network of parallel and intersecting streets (e.g. as in Tabriz). The streets are lined with structures of one or two storeys that contain spaces for shops. The streets are typically roofed with brick vaults, pierced by skylights to allow for light and air circulation. The shops are often adjacent or connected to

3575-421: The street and occupied by merchants. They are typically equipped with large shutters which can be closed and locked when the shopkeeper is away. Another element is a more secure market area, usually centrally located and consisting of streets that were covered or roofed. This complex is variably known as a qayṣariyya , bedesten , or khān , depending on the city or historical period. It usually hosted

3640-538: The upper floor housed merchants. A temporary, seasonal souk is held at a set time that might be yearly, monthly or weekly. The oldest souks were set up annually, and were typically general festivals held outside cities. For example, Souk Ukadh was held yearly in pre-Islamic times in an area between Mecca and Ta’if during the sacred month of Dhu al-Qi'dah . While a busy market, it was more famous for its poetry competitions, judged by prominent poets such as Al-Khansa and Al-Nabigha . An example of an Islamic annual souk

3705-418: The women who worked in stalls, hard-selling wares, and their male customers. Such women were criticized for using the opportunities thus presented to put themselves, rather than their wares, on display, with one commentator comparing their behaviour to that of barmaids. Victorian author Charlotte Mary Yonge wrote that bazaars led to more women being gainfully employed. In Yonge's novel The Daisy Chain ,

3770-448: The workshops where the goods are also produced, so that manufacturing and retail are often concentrated in the same areas, though some production (especially of textiles) was also distributed in other parts of the city. Like the bazaars further west, there were also many khān s (caravanserais) built in the area. They acted as warehouses, production centers, wholesale centers, hostels for merchants, and offices for conducting business. In

3835-445: Was a solid stone building, typically rectangular and roofed by domes, with shops inside. Like the qayṣariyya or bedesten in other regions, it hosted the most important and luxurious trades. The arasta is usually an elongated market structure or market street with shops lining its façades. Arasta s could be independent markets built outside the main bazaar area, such as those built as part of large religious complexes like

3900-542: Was adjoined by, an open-air plaza that served as a forum of socio-economic activity. Historically, bazaars were also held outside cities at locations where incoming caravans stopped and merchants displayed their goods for sale. Bazaars were established at caravanserai , places where a caravan or caravans arrived and remained for rest and refreshments. Since this might be infrequent, souks often extended beyond buying and selling goods to include major festivals involving various cultural and social activities. Any bazaar may serve

3965-493: Was built in 1904 by Bomanjee Maneckjee , for Sultan Ali bin Hamud . It was later extended and restored. Darajani Bazaar is mainly a food market (seafood, meat, fruits, grains, spices), but there are also shops selling a number of different goods, from consumer electronics to clothing. 6°09′44″S 39°11′37″E  /  6.1621°S 39.1935°E  / -6.1621; 39.1935 Bazaar A bazaar or souk

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4030-748: Was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. Al-Madina Souk in Aleppo is the largest covered historic market in the world, with an approximate length of 13 kilometers. It is part of the Ancient Aleppo , a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986 in Syria . The Bazaar complex in Tabriz , Iran, was listed by UNESCO in 2010. The Bazaar of Qaisiyariye in Lar, Iran , is on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2007. Kemeraltı Bazaar in İzmir

4095-435: Was placed on tentative list in 2020. Shopping at a souk or market place is part of daily life throughout much of the Middle East. Prices are commonly set by bargaining , also known as haggling, between buyers and sellers. Bazaars or souks are traditionally divided into specialized sections dealing in specific types of product, each usually housed in a few narrow streets and named after the product it specializes in such as

4160-477: Was then borrowed into English via French ( souk ) by the 19th century. The English word can also be spelled "suq" or "souq". In Modern Standard Arabic the term al-sūq refers to markets in both the physical sense and the abstract economic sense (e.g., an Arabic-speaker would speak of the sūq in the old city as well as the sūq for oil, and would call the concept of the free market السوق الحرّ , as-sūq al-ḥurr ). In northern Morocco,

4225-419: Was usually declared for the period of operation of a souk to permit the unhampered exchange of surplus goods. Some of the seasonal markets were held at specific times of the year and became associated with particular types of produce such as Suq Hijr in Bahrain, noted for its dates while Suq 'Adan was known for its spices and perfumes. In spite of the centrality of the Middle Eastern market place, relatively little

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