Functions of ‘Madrasas’ in the Ottoman Period

Abstract

The understanding and practices of education of Turks during the times before they chose the religion of Islam were shaped with their own life style. The application of praying and worshipping and education based on the structure of the Turkish foundations may be considered to be the start of the process of formal and organized education. As a result of the sympathy for science which is observed during this era, some literary work was seen which had teaching and instructive effect on the society. These were based on such values as ethics, manners, goodness, generosity, wisdom, braveness, respect for the old people which were the social values of the Turkish society during these eras. The secondary goal of education was bringing up heroic type individuals.