Abstract:

The foundations have great importance in the formation and development of cities. The cities in Ottoman lands spread around the mosques which were the work of a foundation. Also, the neighbourhood which were the basic unit in the urban structure were constructed and developed around these mosques. The commercial structures such as market, bazaar, inn and covered bazaar that are of permanent public focus, gathered around the grand mosque which was the biggest mosque in each city. Thus, these mosques had a great role in the formation of the city’s physical structure, same as they contributed to the social and cultural development of the society. In this study, by using Ottoman archive documents as a source, Süleymâniye Mosque which had a quite active role in the development of the city of Çemişgezek and its daily life was defined. In this way, the foundation of mosque was informed. Moreover, explanations were made about the operation of the mosque’s foundation, its income sources, the staff and their salaries. 

Keywords: