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shawna30263 · Sep 4, 2009, 01:51 PM

I was wondering if anyone knew what hotels/motels were called in 900 AD? Or where I can find out certain things like this. Thanks

artlady · Sep 4, 2009, 01:53 PM

I'm guessing they were called Inns.

hheath541 · Sep 4, 2009, 02:00 PM

Inns and waystations, as far as I know.

ScottGem · Sep 4, 2009, 02:12 PM

If they were called anything it would be Inns or Waystations. But, travel was not a common thing in 900 AD.

Much of the time, if someone was traveling where they may need to stay overnight, they would stop at the home of a friend or acquaintance.

Commercial establishments to provide for travelers were a rarity in that time.

hheath541 · Sep 4, 2009, 02:57 PM

Monasteries and convents were also common places for travelers to stay a night. It was a good way for the monks/nuns to spread 'god's word' and find out what was going on in the outside world, while the traveler got a place to sleep and a meal or two.

shawna30263 · Sep 4, 2009, 05:37 PM

Thanks

ejd333 · Oct 23, 2009, 04:30 PM

Where? That has the biggest determination on what they where called, as each nation pretty much had there own languages or dialects back then, as today. In England,France,Germany,China<Africa? Where? Hotel comes from Hostel, German for Hospitality place , there are still youth Hostels around europe, place to just sleep like YMCAs in the US. Motel is a new term from Motor (auto,car) , convient small cottages, one level,isntead of multi story Hotels, witch catered to the new invention of the automobile, in that most had attached garages, so it was convient, and where called motor inns, and later Motels. Today in the US we see the word used in both ways for the ame thing, there are not motor inns these days, Hotels are usually over 5 stories, but that's even changing these days. In the Us and UK the common term for a place to stay was the INN, but this was from the 1300,s onward, you would have to consult an old english dictionary for the word of the 900s. Guest house,wayside,chamber house,taverns an lodges are all terms for places for travelers to find a place to bed and eat in centuries past in the English Speaking areas of Europe and north America.