Iran’s traditional and historical markets were not only a place for trading and commercial productivity; that was known as a place for cultural unity and survival and solidarity of the people of a city. Therefore, the market has had a prominent role in the people’s social life in the past centuries. Each city’s lifestyle and social characteristics could also be known from market culture of that city. A good example of such a feature was seen in the traditional market of Ardabil; the town where the Safavid kings originated from. Its bazaar was closely related to the tomb of the Safavid’s ancestor – Sheikh Safiuddin Safavid.
Ardabil has deep historical roots, but
at the time when the Safavids came to rule Iran, its importance and political and religious characteristics were significantly increased. Because this city was the birthplace of the ancestors of the Safavids and the place where they started and achieved their plans to seize power. In all the years of the Safavid rule, Ardabil had great economic prosperity and social importance. the city market was also considered a busy place for trading goods that came to the market from different cities of Iran and other countries, or vice versa. It can even be said that the Ardabil market had a kind of “centrality” from an economic point of view in that period (10th and 11th lunar centuries). It kept this status in the centuries that followed.
Historical characteristics of the Ardabil market
Ardabil’s traditional and historical market was also known as Rastebazar and Qeisarieh. Like other historical markets of Iran, it was built of shops, timcheh, public bath, school, mosque and other parts connected with the market. The foundation of the Ardabil market dates back to the Seljuk period (6th lunar century). But in the Safavid period, it reached its ultimate glory, and in the Zandiyeh and Qajar periods, other foundations were added to it, and it found an influential place in Iran’s economy. This historical complex is located in the middle of Ardabil, and its surroundings also have historical architecture. Of course, urban transformations and the construction of new streets made the Ardabil market undergo manipulations. Parts of it were destroyed, so much so that the link between center of the bazaar and some of its parts were cut off.
It has not been possible to define the exact year of construction of this market. There is a historic stone inscription on the north section of the bazaar, which is believed to have the year of the bazaar’s construction inscribed on it, but this inscription is not readable due to decay. However, as we said, the foundation of the market was laid in the Seljuk period. In the geographical books of that period (sixth lunar century), explicit references have been made to the Ardabil market, and its four passages have been mentioned. With the establishment of the Safavid government, especially during the reign of Shah Tahmasb I, who paid much attention to the city of Ardabil, this bazaar gained fresh glory; new shops and bazaarcheh (sub-bazaars) were added, and craftsmen of all ranks and type worked there. Linen sellers, grocers, butchers, fabric sellers, Kharat, and dozens of other professionals had shops and offered their goods in this market.
Different divisions in Ardabil market
The main passages of the bazaar had such names: the main passage; Pir-e Abdol Malek passage; Qeysarieh, cobblers, أholaman, goldsmiths, cotton sellers, coppersmiths, knife makers, ironsmiths, and shops such as Golshan, Vakil, Zanjirloo, etc. It is clear from the names of the passages that the number of traders who sold their goods in this market was significant.
In particular, the Qeisariyeh market, also called Chaharsouq, has a circular shape. Its dome, which is 13 meters high, is beautiful with all its simplicity. The openings on the dome bring light inside the market. The structure’s architecture also has apparent signs of Safavid and Qajar architecture.
If we consider the fact that Ardabil market is known as a part of the complex containing the tomb of Sheikh Safi-uddin Ardabili (due to large number of donors), then we can imagine what an important role and influence this market has had. Many parts of the bazaar, in the past centuries, were known as a part of the endowment of the tomb, its income having been spent on charity deeds, or for maintenance of the tomb.
On the whole, markets (bazaar), like the traditional historic market of Ardabil, were known as the documented identity of a city, to the extent that the city’s thriving was connected with the market. In such a context, not only did the economic role and financial turnover of the market become a necessity, but it also played an influential role from an architectural and structural point of view. It became a place for more connections between city residents, merchants, and travelers who went to the market from other cities and areas. Therefore, the market has always been one of the most dynamic urban elements. Ardabil market also had such characteristics. It was essential in historical periods (the Safavid period). It had a significant contribution to Iran’s economic and commercial turnover.
