Problem of ?the other? in high school history textbooks in the context of Muslim Non-Muslim relationships in classical age Ottoman society

This study deals with Muslim non-Muslim relationshıps in the 16th century Ottoman society. It is seen that studies that have been done on non-Muslims in Ottoman society have some problems. The expression of strict contrast between Muslims and non-Muslims is the first of the main problems. The second problem is the dominance of the developments and concepts of the 19th century on these studies. The third problem derives from the Muslim and non-Muslim relationships? being set up on communities.This study does not adopt any of the approaches which have been mentioned above. In this study Muslım non-Muslım relations are set up on the individuals. This is the dominant tendency in the subjects which dealt with.Religion and community ties had an important influence on the relationships which were established by people from different religions who lived in the 16th century Ottoman society. However, the effectiveness of religion and community ties should be examined in two ways. Community identities were not the determiner of relations in everyday life. However, religious and community ties were the main determiners of the identities of the people at the periods when the relations became tense. The distinction of this is tried to be made in the study.Another issue which this study concerned with is how the relationships between Muslims and non-Muslims at Ottoman society took a place in history textbooks. When it is examined it will be seen that high school history textbooks mostly reflect the works which are produced by academics. The problems which have been mentioned above were reflected to in the high school history textbooks, too.Key Words: Community, non-Muslims, Islamic law, high school history textbooks, Muslims, 16th century, Ottoman society, judicial registers.