Kasımiye Medrese, Islamic educational complex in Mardin, Turkey
Kasımiye Medrese is a rectangular teaching building from the 13th century in Mardin with a grand entrance portal that leads visitors inside. The structure contains a central courtyard with a water pool and classrooms arranged on two levels for student study.
Construction of this school started in the 13th century under Sultan Al-Zahir but then paused for about 50 years. Work resumed and was finished in 1445 under the Akkoyunlu dynasty, marking the end of a long building process.
This school served as a hub for religious learning and scientific study, where students explored astronomy, mathematics, and chemistry alongside their theological training. It was a center where knowledge of many kinds was gathered and taught.
The building sits at 975 meters elevation in southwest Mardin and is easy to reach on foot from the city center. Morning and late afternoon visits work well, as the sunlight highlights the details of the structure nicely.
The classroom doors were built unusually low, which meant students had to bow when walking through them. This design choice was a daily reminder of respect toward teachers, built into the very fabric of the building.
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