Functions of ‘Madrasas’ in the Ottoman Period

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.