An Emerging Educational Center in Ottoman Anatolia: Hâdimî Medrese and Its Library

Abstract

This  article  aims  to  examine  how  provinces  and  small  towns  contrib- uted to the socio-educational and intellectual life of the Ottomans. The findings of this study are based on an educational institution such as the medrese, mosque and library led by Muhammad Hadimi, a respected Ottoman scholar and Sufi leader in the 18th century. Demonstrating all aspects of this complex and the historical development of all the constituents of this institution is a large and important task. However, this study attempts to provide data sufficient to determine the following points: First, a small town such as Hadim became one of the important centersof the education, and was able to acquire an interregional reputation through these institu- tions in Ottoman sciences and education in 18th century. Second, other towns and cities throughout Anatolia conducted similar activities on the social and cultural his- tory of the Ottomans which make important contributions to provincial scholarship. Moreover, studies on science and education produced in these regions will shed light on the religious worldview of the period.