A caravan is a group of people travelling together. The word came from the Middle French carvane, which meant “a caravan” or “a flock.”
A caravan is a large, mobile group of people moving from place to place. They can be used as a means of transport or for mutual protection in hostile regions.
Caravans were used for travel along the Silk Road, one of the most important routes in ancient times. They were also a form of transport for pilgrims. Some caravans were designed specifically for special purposes, such as a trans-Saharan salt caravan that included more than twenty thousand camels.
In addition to traveling, caravans also facilitated exchanges of goods and ideas. Many ruins of medieval caravanserais exist today. Often built outside the town, the building was a hulking structure with an enormous wall.
A caravan can also be a trailer towed behind a road vehicle. These can be fold-down trailer tents or large, luxurious motorhomes. The size of a caravan depends on the number of camels and the amount of traffic. The smallest caravans are capable of sleeping two or more people, while the largest can accommodate hundreds.
In the 19th century, traders from the East Coast of Africa established a base in Ujiji. In 1831, they began to explore the interior of Tanzania. They encountered a powerful state called Buganda. It provided the caravans with supplies and resting places.
In the Middle East, caravans were an important part of trade. These were governed by the availability of pasture and water. In addition, they were used to raid villages.