Ottoman Era Primary and Elementary Schools in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti’ndeki Osmanlı Dönemi Sıbyan ve İptidai Mektepleri
Art-Sanat Dergisi, sa.26, ss.259-293, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus, TRDizin)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.26650/artsanat.2026.26.0005
- Dergi Adı: Art-Sanat Dergisi
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.259-293
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Architectural History, Cyprus, Educational Institutions, Ottoman Period
- Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Cyprus, which has been at the center of Asian, African, and European civilizations throughout history, came under Ottoman rule on August 6, 1571, following the expedition against the Venetians. The island, which remained under Ottoman rule for three centuries, was settled and developed. As part of urban development activities, numerous religious, social, and educational institutions have been established on the island. Primary schools, known as sibyan and iptidai mektepleri, were formal educational institutions widely built on the island. Sibyan mektebi were schools where children aged 5-6 received reading, writing, and religious education. Primary schools were elementary education institutions established in 1869 with the General Education Regulations, which modified the primary school system. In addition to religious instruction, primary schools offered reading, writing, geography, and arithmetic. This study covers the schools built in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus from the time of the Ottoman conquest of Cyprus until 1920, when all schools were legally placed under British administration by the Education Act enacted by the British. In this context, nine schools located in different districts of Northern Cyprus, such as Nicosia, Famagusta, Kyrenia, Trikomo, and Morphou, have been identified. These schools are significant not only for their Ottoman architectural features but also for reflecting local influences. This study introduces lesser-known schools in Northern Cyprus and compares them with examples from the capital Istanbul and Anatolia. In doing so, it attempts to determine the position of these schools within the context of Ottoman-era school architecture.