In traditional society, the process of urbanization, particularly in the Ottoman Empire, had a distinctive characteristic. The establishment, management, infrastructure, and social amenities of city centers were often carried out through endowments (waqfs). These endowments were created with the aim of addressing the needs of the community and contributing to the development of cities. However, in the traditional societal structure, the composition of urban populations and their governance were subject to direct intervention by the state. The administration of cities and important administrative roles were typically determined based on proximity to the sultan. This situation had an impact on the classification of cities and the exclusion of economically significant non-Muslim classes from participating in these roles. In other words, those close to the sultan had a more influential role in city governance. In this context, the development and administration of cities in the Ottoman Emp...