From the Medicine in Ottoman Madrasahs to Faculty of Medicine

Madrasah refers to the institutions used for educational activities and furnished with the equipment required for this purpose. The madrasah that emerged in the 10th century was re-designed and developed as the model of an "education institution” in the late 11th century by Nizam’ül-Mülk, the vizier of the Great Seljuks. The geography of the Ottoman Empire extended over the Asian, African, and European continents; and thus, the science in this country was inspired by various regions of the world. With regard to scientific research, health and medicine were two the main fields of study in the Ottoman Empire, as was the case in other Islamic civilizations. Dâru’t ? Tıb, as a specialized madrasah, was one of the institutions where medical research was conducted, in addition to other madrasahs, darüşşifas (hospitals) and especially the Enderun Hospital. The new medical training developing in Europe could not enter these madrasahs. By command of Sultan Mahmud II, Tıphâne and Cerrahhâne-i Amire were founded on March 14, 1827. The medical training that started with Tıbhâne-i Amire progressed uninterrupted with continuous innovation. A new building was demanded for this school in May 1837. The Enderun building at Galatasaray was redesigned, and the institution moved to this building in October 1838. The new period of education started with new professors in February 1839. The school was renamed as Mekteb-i Tıbbiye-i Adliye-i Şahane. With the establishment of Darülfünun-ı Şahane in 1900, Mekteb-i Tıbbiye was accepted as a branch of the Darülfünun; however, this process was completed in 1909.