To fully appreciate and understand what shopping malls are nowadays, one has to realize that shopping malls as a concept have been in the making for centuries. Many of these buildings have had to accommodate the progressive changes in marketing and the social economy beginning from markets that were hundreds of years back to the malls of the contemporary world. Let’s look at the history of some of the oldest shopping malls currently in the world.
Oldest Shopping Malls
Ancient Marketplaces:
The Great Bazaar of Istanbul: Founded in the XV century, this is the largest bazaar, which is deemed to be in operation now for over five hundred years. It provides a complex of commercial premises for the sale of simple products—spices, textiles, jewelry, and antiques.
The Grand Bazaar of Isfahan: This covered bazaar in Iran is perhaps one of the finest examples of the Persian civilization during the 17th century. It contains a number of shops, mosques, and caravanserais, therefore representing the commercial as well as cultural centre.
Early Modern Shopping Arcades
The Burlington Arcade: This is one of the oldest shopping arcades in London, designed in 1819 and then reconstructed in 2003. It provided an upscale environment with shops and jewelry.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II: The world’s first shop in Milan, Italy, which is a shopping mall, was established in 1877. This magnificent building has been designed with a beautiful glass roof and can be associated with the beauty and style of Italy.
These were among the oldest shopping malls of the globe, which have been discussed in this article. These buildings that ranged from small markets of between two and five thousand years ago to immense malls of today have acted as an essential part of the history of markets and culture. It will be significant to observe how the new shopping mall significantly changes in response to the new needs of the consumer brought about by technology.
