The Role of Drought in Economic and Spatial Transformations in the Countryside of the Senegalese River, Mauritania - Analytical Study in Rural Geography- Dr. Abdullah Sidi Mohamed Abnu | Pages: 94-109 |

Abstract: The field of education during the Ottoman era represents one of the most contentious historical areas, as it is directly connected to the development of Arab society in that period. The Ottoman Empire has often been accused of neglecting education and failing to establish sufficient educational institutions across its Arab provinces, thereby bearing responsibility for the widespread illiteracy that marked the era. However, with the onset of the Tanzimat reforms, the Empire began to prioritize education, launching a significant movement to modernize its educational system in line with developments in European countries. The topic of education thus raises many questions, particularly for those who seek to reassess the realities of progress or backwardness within the Ottoman state. This study explores the educational reality in the Province of Beirut, focusing on the role of missionary schools, which were one of the main factors that prompted the Ottoman government to pay closer attention to education by opening Islamic and Ottoman schools aimed at protecting Muslim youth from proselytization efforts, particularly in the Levant—a region with a substantial Muslim and Christian population. The study also addresses Islamic, Christian, and Jewish education, as well as state-run Ottoman education. Collectively, these elements help form a more balanced and accurate portrayal of the Ottoman Empire—one that reflects its tolerance toward Jews and Christians and demonstrates the sophistication of its governmental educational initiatives, thereby refuting the widespread notion of the Empire as a backward state that fostered ignorance.