A caravanserai was a roadside inn or rest stop designed to accommodate travelers and their animals along trade routes, particularly in the Middle East and Central Asia. These establishments provided shelter, food, and water, allowing merchants and their caravans to rest and recover during long journeys. Typically built around a central courtyard, caravanserais featured rooms for guests and stables for animals. They played a crucial role in facilitating trade and cultural exchange along routes like the Silk Road, supporting the movement of goods and ideas between different regions and civilizations.