The education system in the Ottoman Empire was shaped in accordance with the state’s religious, political, and social structure. Education was carried out in a manner encompassing every segment of society, with religious sciences serving as the foundation. The Ottoman education system was built upon a madrasa-based structure. The process, which began with neighborhood schools in the early periods, continued at higher levels through madrasas.
Neighborhood schools generally operated to teach children how to read the Quran, write, and learn basic religious knowledge. These schools are known as the places where the earliest education in the Ottoman Empire was provided. Madrasas, on the other hand, were institutions offering more advanced education. Here, in addition to Islamic sciences such as jurisprudence (fiqh), Quranic exegesis (tafsir), and hadith, subjects like logic, mathematics, and astronomy were also taught.
The Ottoman education system was financed through endowments (waqfs). The expenses of educational institutions were generally covered by endowments established by the public. This structure contributed to ensuring continuity in education. At the same time, instructors known as müderris (professors) were selected from among individuals with the highest level of knowledge in the madrasas. The core elements of the Ottoman education system are as follows:
- Neighborhood schools
- Madrasas
- The Enderun School
- Financing through endowments (waqfs)
- Müderris (madrasa professors)
- Modern-era schools (rüştiye, idadi, darülfünun)
What Innovations Were Made in Education in the Ottoman Empire?
The innovations made in education in the Ottoman Empire gained particular momentum in the 18th and 19th centuries. During this period, developments in Europe were closely monitored, and fundamental changes were made to the education system. The innovations made in Ottoman education began with the addition of modern institutions alongside traditional madrasa education.
Among the first innovations was the opening of schools that provided foreign language instruction. Technical schools such as the Imperial Naval Engineering School (Mühendishane-i Bahri-i Hümayun, 1773) and the Imperial Army Engineering School (Mühendishane-i Berri-i Hümayun, 1795) were established to provide education in military and engineering fields. These institutions are regarded as the first examples of Western-style education in the Ottoman Empire.
New educational institutions such as rüştiyes (middle schools), idadis (high schools), and sultanis (high school-level schools) were opened. In addition, educational opportunities began to be offered to female students as well. The innovations made in education in the Ottoman Empire are as follows:
- The opening of engineering schools (Mühendishane)
- The establishment of rüştiye, idadi, and sultani schools
- The inclusion of girls in education
- The opening of teacher training schools (Darülmuallimin)
- The founding of Darülfünun, offering university-level education
- The inclusion of Western-style sciences in the curriculum
What Was the Language of Education in the Ottoman Empire?
The language of education in the Ottoman Empire varied depending on the type, level, and period of the educational institution. However, in general, the language of education in the Ottoman Empire was conducted in three main languages: Arabic, Persian, and Ottoman Turkish. Both religious and scientific traditions had a significant influence on the choice of these languages.
In madrasa education, Arabic was used as the primary language. This was because Islamic sciences such as the Quran, hadiths, and jurisprudence were based on Arabic sources. For this reason, madrasa students first learned Arabic and used this language to understand and interpret religious texts.
Persian, on the other hand, held an important place in literature and Sufism. Works belonging to classical Persian literature were taught in madrasas and at the palace, with particular emphasis placed on Persian in poetry and Sufi texts. This language made a great contribution to the development of Divan literature.
With the growing interest in Western languages, French also began to be taught in some schools. Particularly in higher education institutions such as sultanis and the Darülfünun, French took its place as the language of textbooks and reference sources.
