SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS

VIII. BLSEL INTERNATIONAL ÇATALHÖYÜK SCIENTIFIC RESERARC CONGRESS 04-05 July 2026, Konya, Türkiye, 4 - 05 Temmuz 2026, ss.236-237, (Özet Bildiri)

SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

AAbstract

The origins of the School of Civil Engineering can be traced back to the Mühendishane-i Berri-i Hümayun, which

was founded in 1773. Established in 1795, the Mühendishane-i Berri-i Hümayun was a school that trained military

engineers specialising in fortifications and construction. In 1849, changes were made to the curriculum with the

introduction of artillery and architecture courses. The Mühendishane, which returned to military engineering, was

relocated to Harbiye in 1864. In 1871, the artillery and fortification departments were separated from Harbiye,

and the Mühendishane came to be known as the ‘Mekteb-i Mekâtib-i Askeriye’. In 1874, a school of civil

engineering was opened under the name ‘Turuk ve Maâbir Mektebi’ within the Darülfünun-ı Osmani, established

in Galatasaray. Abdülhamid II abolished the ‘Turuk ve Maâbir Mektebi’ in 1879, a school whose student body

consisted entirely of non-Muslims. In 1883, he established the Hendese-i Mülkiye Mektebi. The school opened

on 20 October 1884. It began teaching on 3 November 1883. The administration of the School of Civil

Engineering and that of the Imperial School of Land Engineering were placed under the Ministry of Engineering;

the teaching staff of both institutions was the same. Between 1889 and 1891, Professor Dr Philipp Forchheimen,

the most renowned hydraulic engineer of the period, served as Head of Studies. He delivered lectures at the school.

Those who graduated in 1888 had completed a five-year course of study. Thirteen engineers graduated in 1888,

and 25 in 1889. At school: algebra, logarithms, geometry, chemistry, physics, integrals and differentials, calculus,

geology and mining, land surveying, topography, mechanical engineering, construction management, roads,

railways, irrigation, water supply, maritime transport, hydraulic machinery, bridges, architecture, ports,

economics, survey preparation, telegraphy, electricity, tunnelling and the preparation of various projects. As the

School of Civil Engineering was under military administration, all its graduates served in the civil service from

the very beginning. The most significant project undertaken by this group was the Hejaz Railway. In 1909, the

School of Civil Engineering was transferred to the Ministry of Public Works and renamed the Higher School of

Engineering.

Keywords: School of Civil Engineering, II.Abdülhamid, Mühendishane-i Berri-i Hümayun.ssoc. Prof. Dr. Çetin AYKURT