Suleymaniye Kulliyesi: A historically important medical, scientific, and cultural center

Abstract

SCIENCE HAS MANY Western and Eastern historical roots. All of these contributed to the body of academic literature. One of the most important aspects of scientific progress is educational institutions, including hospitals, schools, and libraries. Some of these institutions may offer an identity for a city, as well as contribute to its development. Suleymaniye Kulliyesi is one such institution. Suleymaniye Kulliyesi, established in the 16th century, contains many centers, including a mosque, surrounded by a hospital, school of medicine, central pharmacy, and library. It once served both the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic. The school of medicine of this complex was the first school of medicine in the Ottoman period that functioned in coordination with the hospital and central pharmacy. The library contains many rare books and manuscripts. Currently, it is one of the richest centers in the field of oriental studies. We conclude that Suleymaniye Kulliyesi, with its health-related elements and library, contributed to the development and progress of science and deserves to be cited in the literature of the Western world.