THE CENTRAL MARKET BAZAAR OF CITY BOLGAR   THE SIGN OF ISLAMIC URBAN CULTURE IN THE HEART OF EASTER
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 11/01/2021

Excavations at the central market (bazaar) in the city of Bolgar have almost completely uncovered the remains of a large building (37 x 34 m) with four entrances and a system of passageways that connected the shops inside. The bazaar was built in the 1350s and destroyed 10-20 years later. The walls were made of bricks and rested on stone foundations, while the roofing was made of wood. The building of the bazaar demonstrates the adoption of the architectural styles of the Islamic East (Iran, Turkey) in the forested regions of Eastern Europe. The excavations have yielded very valuable material for the analysis of the commercial relationship between Eastern Europe and Iran, Byzantium, China and Western Europe. The bazaar was a trading hub for imported fabrics, goods manufactured in precious metal and other luxury commodities. The bazaar in Bolgar is the first of its kind found on the forested regions of Eastern Europe. In the cities of Old Russia and the post-ancient cities of the Northern Black Sea region, trade was largely conducted in open areas. The bazaar demonstrates that Oriental (Islamic) trade penetrated far beyond the areas dominated by Islamic religion.

Islamic traditions in monumental architecture, trade and urban landscaping (water supply, public baths, etc.) were brought to Bolgar by immigrants from Eastern countries (primarily the Transcaucasus and Central Asia), among whom there were not only Muslims, but also Christians, who were nevertheless imbued with Islamic traditions (Armenians). Their contribution to the urban culture of Bolgar completely transformed the urban layout, and brought it closer to Oriental (Islamic) standards. However, in a number of ways, urban life in the region differed from the purely Islamic model, especially concerning house construction, the organization of crafts and ritual, which preserved many pagan traits.


Author(s): Koval, Vladimir - Badeev, Denis (Institute of archaeology Russian Academy of Sciences)