Water Management Approaches in the Ottoman Empire

In today's world, the decrease in basic life resources, especially water, has required humanity to once again purify itself from its comfortable but irresponsible life model. Because water is not only a vital need, but also the primary factor that shapes many issues such as the settlements, lives and cultures of societies. When this interaction that has been ongoing since the existence of humanity is evaluated in terms of environmental history, the Ottoman Empire has been one of the civilizations that stands out with its success coming from its deep-rooted past. The Ottoman Empire's approach and sensitivity to water has formed the basis for it to be called the "water civilization" and therefore to be chosen as the subject of the study. In this study, the footprints of "water" of the Ottoman Empire in terms of environmental history have been followed; it aims to reveal approaches related to water supply, sanitation, conservation, protection and security of resources, floods, measures taken, and the use of water from industry to energy. In addition, it aims to shed light on the present, to be a role model for today's modern societies, to be a source of inspiration, and to contribute to environmental awareness.