Sevi Kocak
Istanbul University, Turkey
The history of the Istanbul University, one of the longest established brands of Turkey, dating back to 1453, is also the history of the academic education and development in Turkey.
When Mehmed II conquered the city, he immediately took action for the development of it. Mehmed II was educated by prominent teachers of the time such as Molla Gürani and Molla Hüsrev, and he was so wise to locate Istanbul as the capital city of the state as well as a centre of science and culture.
With the invitation of Mehmed II, who attached great importance to life sciences as well as religious sciences, a lot of artists and scientists living in various cities in the world from Samarkand to Venice started to come to Istanbul.
On the first Friday after the conquest, at the first namaz (ritual prayer) performed in Hagia Sophia, Mehmed II ordered his teachers, the professors and scholars to start training immediately, and upon this order, Hagia Sophia was transformed into a mosque and the monks’ rooms along Hagia Sophia were turned into a madrasah and first training was started there.
European style higher schools started to be established in early 19th century. It was then, the decision came to built classrooms, a library, a museum and laboratories. The Darülfünun building that was completed in 1865 and the construction of the current gate was started in the same year.
On the 25th anniversary of Abdulhamid II’s taking to the throne, that is, on September 1, 1900, Darülfünun was reestablished with three branches consisting of Sciences, Letters and Theology. Continuous university education was started for the first time with this institution and it took root in Turkey.
This monumental door is not only the symbol of the Istanbul University, but also the symbol of “the concept of university” in Turkey. Entering the university also means entering this door with dreams.
Istanbul University, Turkey
The history of the Istanbul University, one of the longest established brands of Turkey, dating back to 1453, is also the history of the academic education and development in Turkey.
When Mehmed II conquered the city, he immediately took action for the development of it. Mehmed II was educated by prominent teachers of the time such as Molla Gürani and Molla Hüsrev, and he was so wise to locate Istanbul as the capital city of the state as well as a centre of science and culture.
With the invitation of Mehmed II, who attached great importance to life sciences as well as religious sciences, a lot of artists and scientists living in various cities in the world from Samarkand to Venice started to come to Istanbul.
On the first Friday after the conquest, at the first namaz (ritual prayer) performed in Hagia Sophia, Mehmed II ordered his teachers, the professors and scholars to start training immediately, and upon this order, Hagia Sophia was transformed into a mosque and the monks’ rooms along Hagia Sophia were turned into a madrasah and first training was started there.
European style higher schools started to be established in early 19th century. It was then, the decision came to built classrooms, a library, a museum and laboratories. The Darülfünun building that was completed in 1865 and the construction of the current gate was started in the same year.
On the 25th anniversary of Abdulhamid II’s taking to the throne, that is, on September 1, 1900, Darülfünun was reestablished with three branches consisting of Sciences, Letters and Theology. Continuous university education was started for the first time with this institution and it took root in Turkey.
This monumental door is not only the symbol of the Istanbul University, but also the symbol of “the concept of university” in Turkey. Entering the university also means entering this door with dreams.