SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLING IN TEKİRDAĞ IN THE PRE-REPUBLICAN PERIOD

The earliest remains of human settlement in Tekirdağ were found in Yatak near the village of Karansilli and in Balıtepe near Malkara. It is widely acknowledged that Tekirdağ was established as a Greek colony. The first city, founded by settlers from Samos Island, was named Bisanthe. The region where the Egnatia Road, one of the crucial highways of the Roman Empire, passed through met some of the grain needs of the capital, Constantinople, especially during the Eastern Roman Empire. The Ottomans, marking their presence on the European continent with the capture of Çimpe castle, first seized Tekirdağ in 1357 during the reign of Orhan Gazi, led by Süleyman Pasha. At the end of the Ottoman period, Tekirdağ was a Sanjak centre under the province of Edirne. Tekirdağ, a city steeped in the rich tapestry of Turkish history and culture, has played a pivotal role from the days of the Ottoman Empire to the present. This research delves into the unique historical significance of Tekirdağ, particularly its role in education and training activities during the pre-Republican period. Information on schools and schooling in Tekirdağ is presented within the scope of the research.