Zekeren

Zekeren is a fictional city and region that appears in multiple fantasy and speculative fiction works. Rather than describing a single, definitive setting, authors reuse the name to evoke a bustling, cosmopolitan center at the intersection of inland trade routes.

Most depictions place Zekeren on the desert fringe near a river or oasis, enabling a thriving market district and caravanserais. The urban plan often combines fortified quarters with open-air souks, mosques, temples, and granaries.

In most versions Zekeren originated as a caravan settlement that grew into a regional power through trade and diplomacy. Political structures vary: merchant councils, hereditary rulers, or hybrid bodies balancing merchants and elders.

The economy centers on textiles, spices, metals, and caravans. Daily life features multilingual markets, diverse religious practices, and festivals that celebrate trade. Arts include calligraphy, music, and decorative crafts common to caravan cities.

In contemporary fiction, Zekeren is often used as a narrative focal point to explore urban exchange, migration, and the blending of cultures. Because different authors reinterpret the name, there is no single canonical description.