Education System in the Ottoman Empire | Enderun School and Madrasahs

Education systems are one of the major factors influencing the continuation and development of states. It can be said that the success of the Ottoman state in the vast geography it ruled stems from the success of the educational system it implemented. Here is everything about the Ottoman education system.

History of Education in the Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire was a highly developed state in terms of education. Education occupied an important place since the foundation of the Ottoman Empire. The first Ottoman educational institutions are considered madrasahs and masjids. Madrasahs were the center of Islamic education in the Ottoman Empire and offered a broad educational program. These programs include subjects such as Islamic law, history, fiqh, tafsir, hadith, mathematics and astronomy.

The rise of the Ottoman Empire was also reflected in the education sector. In the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire established a number of private educational institutions in Istanbul, but the main one was the Enderun School. Enderun School was the elite educational institution of the Ottoman Empire, providing education to Ottoman rulers and high officials.

Educational institutions and schools in the Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire is a state that existed from the 15th century to the early 20th century. During this time, the education system in the Ottoman Empire focused on political goals as well as historical, cultural and social values. Educational institutions in the Ottoman Empire consisted of madrasas, imam hatip schools, sultani schools and private schools.

Educational institutions in the Ottoman Empire

Madrasahs were one of the oldest and most important educational institutions in the Ottoman Empire, covering subjects such as Islamic knowledge, history, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy and geography. Sultani schools, on the other hand, were private educational institutions aimed at educating intellectuals in the Ottoman Empire. Private schools, though very few, were established to meet specialized educational needs.

1. Quarry for beginners

It is an important institution of the devshirme system, which started to systematize during the reign of I. Murad Khan and was applied to meet the military needs of the state. The recruited non-Muslim children were taken to the Novice quarry after growing up with Turkish families, and after receiving military training there, they were sent to other quarries depending on their abilities.

2. Enderun School

II. The Enderun school, which was founded by Murat and changed from time to time, managed to maintain its importance until the last periods of the Ottoman state. Intelligent and talented children of the recruited were brought up in the quarry for beginners and received rigorous education. In addition to religious lessons such as Quran, Tafsir, Hadith and Kalam, the children cared for here received education in literature, construction (poetry), grammar, language and literature lessons such as Arabic and Persian, and positive sciences such as mathematics, geography and logic. Also called inner boys, these Enderun students assimilated the palace culture, performed their palace and sultan services, and held important positions in the army, administration, and bureaucracy of the Ottoman state. They were assigned to the provincial organization by performing in the palace.

3. Sıbyan (children’s) schools

These are the schools where children between the ages of 5 and 10 acquire basic religious knowledge and literacy skills. These institutions, also called neighborhood school and Taş school, can be considered as the first step towards formal education. In these schools, which were present in almost every neighborhood, children were taught moral values ​​and made sure they were away from evil. After these schools, the children went to the schools they wanted according to their abilities.

4. Madrasas

Madrasahs, first seen in the Anatolian Seljuks and then in the Ottoman Empire, are the most widespread and deep-rooted educational institutions of the Islamic world. Madrasahs, which were formed as foundation institutions, also provided housing and other needs for the students. Ottoman madrasas were subject to various changes and regulations over time, and they were judged according to the salaries given to the teachers and their area of ​​training.

educational programs of madrasas;

• Religion and law (Quran, tafsir, hadith, fiqh, kalam…)
• Language and literature (Arabic, Persian languages, eloquence, poetry, grammar…)
• Philosophy (philosophy and logic)
• Basic Science (Medicine, Mathematics, Geometry, Astronomy, Geography)

Madrasahs also provided training for religious, academic and bureaucratic personnel of the Ottoman state. The students who completed the madrasah course, which was a long and grueling process, made up the top tier of the intellectual staff in society.

What were the educational institutions in the Ottoman Empire?

Educational institutions in the Ottoman Empire consisted of madrasas, sultanic schools and private schools.

What is the purpose of madrasahs?

Madrasahs were one of the oldest and most important educational institutions in the Ottoman Empire, covering subjects such as Islamic knowledge, history, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy and geography.

Who are the Sultani schools founded for?

Sultani schools were private educational institutions aimed at educating intellectuals in the Ottoman Empire.

Why were private schools established in the Ottoman Empire?

Private schools in the Ottoman Empire, although very few, were established to meet the needs of specialized education.

Was the education system in the Ottoman Empire one-sided?

The educational system in the Ottoman Empire reflects one that was multi-faceted and focused on different purposes.