Souq

A Souk (Arabic سوق, DMG Sūq 'market', plural أسواق / Aswāq; alternative spellings in German: SOQ, Souk, Suk, Sook, Soukh or Souq ) is a commercial quarter in an Arab city.

Souks are an almost universal characteristic of an Arab city and most of its economic center. In contrast to European business and craft areas, the souks are generally uninhabited and story.

Economic function of the souqs

The typical Sūq lanes have always been the domain of retail trade and crafts. In addition, the souks are also centers of foreign and long-distance trade, the financial and credit system and all kinds of public and private services, such as mosques. Souqs are organized so that transactions with the same goods are usually close to each other and in addition there is a short connection to the warehouses, such as the textile retailing in the streets and the material storage in the adjacent department stores.

As the center of the large and long-distance trade, and financial matters, the buildings form of Chan has emerged. This is a multi-storey building with lockable courtyard, which is connected most souks.

Moreover, they are usually organized so that the " nobler " crafts, such as goldsmiths, are in the middle, and has become the top-selling retail prevailed over the craft to the busier streets. Traditionally, workshop and shop in one place.

Many souqs are largely covered to protect visitors from the scorching heat.

Change over time

Beginning of the 20th century lost the souks increasingly important and were a cheap dwelling place for immigrants. They competed mostly with Western-oriented districts that offered pleasant residential alternatives.

Rediscovered by tourists

With the oriental charm and exotic shopping experience Sūq became increasingly attractive for tourists.

He also witnessed an increasing appreciation by the local population, which led to some very elaborate restoration of the preserved buildings, to be usable still can.

Offer change

With the growing importance of tourists as customers naturally fit also the range of goods, and folkloric goods, luxury goods and fashion leather goods occupied a larger place in the souks.

This traditional craft has this trend more and more soft, while the arts and crafts of the wealthy clients benefited.

Others

In Arab souks, one acts with the store owner to reach an agreement on the price ( haggling ).

The concept of having a wide variety of shops, services and restaurants concentrated on a narrow space, similar to the structure of modern shopping centers in Western countries.

Quote

• In addition to the stores, where it is only sold, there are many, which you can watch how the objects are created. So one is there from the beginning, and in a good mood the viewer. Because the desolation of modern life is that we get everything fixed into the house and to use, such as from ugly magic apparatus belongs. - Elias Canetti ( The Voices of Marrakech, the souks )