Maras's science class in the lost period of the Ottoman Empire according to the archives of Mesihat

This study is conducted in order to bring light to the scientists and the other members of science class raised in the last period of the Ottoman Empire in Kahramanmaras which is one of the best cities in Turkey and which also hosted many civilizations throughout history. The scope of this project which was prepored as master's thesis is government officals who were born between 1824-1889 in Maras Sanjah which was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire and officals who took place in the clerkship, regentship, mudarriship or other fields of science class, their biographies and the Ottoman Empire's contribution to the science of history under the favour of its officals. This study consist of two parts. In the first part, the short history, administ rative and demographic structure of the Maras Sanjah which was connected at that time to the province for many years in the Ottoman administrative division are supported whit tables. Also, the origin of the name Maras and the general history of the city, before it was under the dominion of Ottoman Empire, are discussed in this section. In addition, by explaining social instution in the Ottoman Empire, masque and madrasah institutions that had a direct impact on the upbringing of the members of the science class in Maras are discussed. In the second part, general information is given about the formation of the science class which is one of the most important institutions of the Ottoman State, the procedures on which it is based, its mechanism and operation. The methods of education of members of the Ottoman science class rasied by madrasahs which were at the care of the Ottoman education system are mentioned. The files in the Mesihat Archive which belong to 28 Ottoman science class members who lived between 1824-1889 in Maras are simplified, translated into Modern Turkish and turned into a biography. Members of science class from Maras are those who groduated from madrasahs as mudarris, clerk, regent and as such in the Ottoman Empire and in other various branches in the science system. Regarding the members of science class which were studied, it is understood that besied Ottoman language and Turkish, most of them knew Arabic, even some of them spoke the languages of the age like French and Persion. Thus, it is roticed that the Ottoman community played a pioneering and guiding role which showed the right way.