Education and teaching activities in West Anatolian Turcoman principalities

Having defeated Anatolian Seljuk state against Mongols in Battle of Köseda1243, the unity in Anatolia was broken down and many Anatolian Beylics werefounded in every places of Anatolia. Mente'e, Ayd(nolu, Saruhan, Germiyan andKaresi were the ones which founded in west Anatolia. these beylics continued andpreserved the Turkish culture. They also passed it on to the future where they werefounded. These beylics which were bridging between Anatolian Seljuks andOttomans, also contributed to making Turkish a language with an extensivevocabulary. Turkish, overshadowed by Arabic and Persian during the Anatolian SeljukState period, had gained a more prestigious place in these beylics? period. In additionto this, the rulers protected the scientists and phylosophers, coming totaly differentregions to Anatolia. Furthermore, they tried to take advantage of these phylosops?knowledge. They established medressehs and libraries in many places of Anatolia withthis purpose.These beylics were combination of Central Asia Turkish culture, Islamicculture and Seljukian culture. This combination was extremely important for thedevelopment of education in Anatolia. When studied that period?s resources, it is seenthat, there was very active thinking environment in Anatolia, Teaching and Educationactivities, conducted in traditional education institutions like , Medressehs, dervishlodges were continuation of Anatolian Seljuk?s education institutions. Although it waslectured positive sciences, it was given more importance to Islamic lessons inMedressehs. Professor- student relationship in these education institutions reflects thatperiod?s way of life. Well known travelers? ideas like Ibn Batuta , clearly reflects thatperiod?s education and teaching environment. We can see that in on hand teachingwas done by way of traditional teaching methods; on the other hand education wasconduted by professional staffs in Medressehs.The teachers who had tittles like, Müderris, Hoca and Muid, had studentscalled ?Talebe and Dani'mend?. These students would graduate from the school withthe diploma called ?:cazet?.That the Mystic movements , active in Anatolia, had brought different way ofthinking to the Education, was important. The famous thinkers, coming Iran, CentralAsia, Egypt and Khrorassan to Anatolia, formed Anatolia?s way of thinking.Ideas of Sufis like Mevlana, Hoca Ahmet Yesevi, Hac( Bekta'-( Veli,Muhyiddin Arabi and Yunus Emre, affected Anatolian people deeply. These Sufisideas went beyond their periods. Furthermore, these great sufis ideas had brought newreligious and philosophical opennings. Mevlevilik, Ekberilik, Hurufilik, Bekta'ilik andYesevilik were only some of them. Rather than these there were occupationalcooperation organizations. Ahilik came first among them. Except for beingoccupational organization, Ahilik had philosophical and religious characteristics.Foundations were also one of the institutions, affecting teaching-education in thatperiod.West Anatolian cities like, Kütahya, Birgi, Tire, Peçin, Ayasolu, Mula,Manisa, Balat and Milas had been the centre for the science in those beyliks period.The scientist, poets, mystics and man of letters who flourished in those regions, hadcreated very effective thinking environment. The rulers, who supported and protectedto these scientists, had played important role in flourishing of this environment. ManyMedressehs? ruins and literature works which remained from west Anatolian beylicsuntil this time, clearly proofs the productively of that period?s way of thinking.Thinking environment, flourished in Turcoman beylics which were foundedin West Anatolia, was in a very advanced point compared to their contemporaries.This system which was founded upon Central Asia, Islam and Seljukian heritage, hadcreated their own style.