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Seljuk Madrasa Network

Type Object Region West Asia Time 1065–1200

A state-funded religious-academic education system promoted across the Islamic world in the mid-to-late 11th century, centered on Sunni jurisprudence…

Timeline

  1. 1065–1067Baghdad · IraqNizam al-Mulk, with the support of Sultan Alp Arslan, established the first Nizamiyya madrasa in Baghdad, with Shafi'i jurisprudence and Ash'ari theology as the mainstream, accompanied by dormitories and a stipend system.
  2. 1067–1092Cities of Khurasan and Iraq · IraqDuring Nizam al-Mulk's tenure, the madrasa model was rapidly replicated in the empire's core provinces, forming a chain education network funded by the court, with a unified curriculum and appointed scholars.
  3. 1111–1120Merv, Nishapur, and Samarkand · KhurasanUnder Sultan Sanjar's rule, the madrasa network was perfected in eastern capitals such as Merv, combining with local judiciary and charitable endowments (waqf), becoming a core institutional device of governance and religious authority in the eastern empire.
  4. 1100–1300Cities across the Islamic world · North AfricaThe architectural layout, endowment system, and curriculum of Seljuk madrasas were imitated by the Ayyubids, Zengids, and later regimes; the madrasa became a standard feature of Islamic cities, with influence extending into the Ottoman and Mughal eras.

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