The Contribution of Ottoman Rulers in Algeria to Cultural Endowments (Waqf)

Abstract

This study examines the pivotal role of waqf (religious endowments) as the primary guarantor of the continuity of education and culture in Ottoman Algeria. In the absence of a centralized, state-funded education system, waqf served as a sustainable social and economic engine, supporting a vast network of kuttabs (traditional Quranic schools), madrasas (schools), and libraries. This study aims to highlight the individual contributions of Ottoman rulers in Algeria, particularly during the Dey period, to educational and cultural endowments, and the extent to which these contributed to the revival of intellectual centers in Ottoman Algeria. By documenting the endowments of Ottoman rulers in Algeria in these areas, the study reveals how Algeria maintained high literacy rates, a fact that impressed contemporary European travelers. This demonstrates that waqf was not merely a charitable act, but rather a strategic institutional framework that fostered the flourishing of religious and even intellectual sciences through private endowments, including those of the ruling classes