Marketplace

Markets have existed for as long as humans have engaged in trade. The earliest bazaars may have originated in Persia, from where the phenomenon spread to the rest of the Middle East and to Europe. Documentary sources suggest that zoning policies confined trading to particular parts of cities in Iran from around 3000 BCE, providing the pre-conditions for the emergence of a bazaar. Middle Eastern bazaars were typically long strips with stalls on either side and a covered roof to protect traders and purchasers from the fierce sun. In Europe, informal, unregulated markets gradually made way for a system of formal, chartered markets from the 12th century CE. Throughout the medieval period, increased regulation of marketplace practices, especially weights and measures, gave consumers confidence in the quality of market goods and the fairness of prices. Around the globe, markets have evolved in different ways depending on local ambient conditions, especially weather, tradition, and culture. In the Middle East, markets tend to be covered, to protect traders and shoppers from the sun. In milder climates, markets are often open-air. In Asia, a system of morning markets trading in fresh produce and night markets trading in non-perishables is common.

Today, potential customers can access some marketplaces electronically or on the internet through e-commerce or matching platforms. In many countries, shopping at a local market is a standard feature of daily routine. Given the marketplace's role in ensuring food supply for a population, marketplaces are often highly regulated by a central authority. In many places, designated marketplaces have become listed sites of historic and architectural significance and represent part of a town's or a country's cultural assets. For these reasons, they have often become popular tourist-destinations.