Safavid Public Works: The Caravanserais That Tied an Empire Together

The Safavid Empire: Persia's Return to Greatness — Fexingo History · Jul 10, 2026 · 7m

Shah Abbas I transformed Safavid Persia not just through military conquests and trade reforms, but through a vast network of caravanserais — roadside inns that connected Isfahan to the Silk Road, the Persian Gulf, and pilgrimage routes to Najaf and Karbala. This conversation explores the engineering, funding, and social impact of these structures, drawing on the accounts of European travelers like Jean Chardin and Tavernier. We look at how the shah's endowments (waqf) supported caravanserais, bridges, and bazaars as an integrated system; how the rahdar (road guards) kept routes safe; and how…