Caravanserai (0-1500)

Merchants and travelers along the Silk Road faced many dangers, but for stretches of the journey they could rely on caravanserais. Situated at regular intervals along the most travelled routes, these buildings offered overnight shelter and refreshment for both man and beast. Travelling East to West, from the centre of China to the shores of the Mediterranean, this exhibition allows visitors to explore ten of these ancient monuments - the physical infrastructure of the trade and exchange that characterized the ancient 'Silk Road'.