Abstract:

The concept, “Kulliyah” (building complex), the roots of which dated back to the first years of Islamism, stands for a complex of buildings centered around a mosque and composed of various individual buildings with social functions such as madrasah, library, han (commercial trade center), hamam (public bathhouse) and bedesten (covered bazaar). Kulliyahs, which were of great importance, particularly during Ottoman period, in terms of architecture and arts, provided service to the inhabitants of the province and the region they were constructed in through their public and religious functions; furthermore they shaped the texture of the province they were built in to an important extent. These Kulliyahs had served for a long period of time without delay owing to the rich waqfs (religious endowments)which were established by their constructors (bânis), and it was ensured that various locations had been populated through waqf programmes in line with the development and housing policy of the Empire The purpose of this paper is mainly to provide information about the financial resources of Rustem Pasha Kulliyah which is one of the important historical heritages of Ottoman Empire in Tekirdag, and also to shed light on its significant contributions to the development of the province during the course of the history.

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