Efforts to modernize education during the reign of abdulhamid ii: a historical and architectural study on the vocational and tecnical schools built in Bursa

This study examines the modernization efforts in the educational system during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II (1876-1909) in a multidimensional manner at historical, architectural and urban scales, focusing on the vocational and technical education institutions constructed in the province of Bursa. The research aims to demonstrate that the modernization initiatives of the Late Ottoman period were not confined to administrative and pedagogical reforms alone, but also became visible through architectural production and the transformation of urban space. It further aims to reveal how modernization manifested itself in unique ways in provincial cities such as Bursa during this process. In doing so, the research proposes a new spatial perspective on the Ottoman modernization process by examining the physical imprints of reform policies that spread from the imperial center to the provinces. Within this framework, educational institutions established in Bursa, such as the Hudâvendigâr Hamîdiye School of Agricultural Practices, the Mekteb-i Fünun-u İdadi, the Harîr Dârü't-Talimi (Silk School), the Bursa Mekteb-i İdadi-i Mülki, Hamidiye Industrial School and the Bursa Hamidiye Teacher's Seminary are evaluated as primary structures where the educational policies of the era are embodied within the provincial urban setting. These schools are considered not only as institutions organizing education, but also as spatial and visual representations of the ideological discourse of modernizing Ottoman Empire. The buildings are analyzed regarding their positioning within the city's topography, their connections with newly opened roads, and their integration into the neighborhood's evolving fabric. Therefore, the study demonstrates that the modernization process extended beyond regulations and pedagogical programs, indicating a comprehensive transformation that changed urban morphology and social memory. Methodologically, the thesis provides a meticulous examination of archival documents, yearbooks, old maps, photographs from the period and the construction plans. The literature review contextualizes the architectural approaches and educational policies of the era within a theoretical framework. Observations on the ground and comparative spatial analyses offer a profound evaluation of the schools' plan typologies, façade compositions, and material preferences. This multilayered analysis unveils both the commonalities and distinctive features of the buildings. This research is particularly significant in revealing how state authority and modernization ideology during the reign of Abdulhamid II impacted on provinces through space. The redesigned transportation axes of the city, the newly opened boulevards, and the monumental school buildings, aligned along these routes, stand out as physical manifestations of modernization. These developments highlight the symbolic power of the modern state within the traditional fabric of the province. This thesis interprets these educational institutions not merely as buildings studied within the history of architecture, but as ideological and cultural instruments through which Ottoman modernization was spatially articulated in Bursa. Thus, it offers a layered perspective on the period while aiming to contribute a deeper reading to the literature on Ottoman urban history, educational architecture, and modernization literature. Keywords: Abdulhamid II period, Ottoman modernization, Educational buildings, Bursa Province