Dr. Erhan Bektaş, a faculty member in the History Department of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, penned "Religious Reform in the Late Ottoman Empire," which met readers through I.B. Tauris publications. The book, written in English under the title "Religious Reform in the Late Ottoman Empire: Institutional Change and the Professionalization of the Ulema," re-examines the common view that the influence of the ulema declined in the last century of the Ottoman Empire. With its rich research and strong narrative, the work serves as an important resource for history enthusiasts and those seeking to understand the complex structure of the Ottoman Empire.
With the book meeting its readers from I.B. Tauris, one of the world's leading publishers in the international arena, Dr. Erhan Bektaş is making a name for himself in the field of Ottoman History.
Examines the influence of the ulema in the late Ottoman period…
In his work titled "Religious Reform in the Late Ottoman Empire: Institutional Change and the Professionalization of the Ulema," Dr. Bektaş re-examines the common view that the influence of the ulema declined in the last century of the Ottoman Empire.
Based on Ottoman state archives and the Meşihat archive, the work demonstrates that the ulema underwent a process of professionalization within the framework of the Tanzimat reforms and continued to play a significant role in Ottoman society.
Presents a detailed portrait of the ulema…
The book begins by explaining the transformations within the Meşihat department, then uses archives to present a detailed portrait of the ulema assigned to legal and educational roles in the state.
The book also shows that in the state's centralization efforts, the ulema played a central role, particularly in the provincial regions of the empire, by mediating between the government and social groups.
Dr. Erhan Bektaş, with his rich research and strong writing, offers important literature to history enthusiasts and those seeking to understand the complex structure of the Ottoman Empire.