ИСТИНА

The present article lies in the course of research works which are based on published archival materials and aimed to disclose the peculiarity of the Ottoman waqfs, define their role in the developing of the social and charitable institutions, estimate their dimension for cultural, political and socio-economical life in Rumelia – the most developed province in the Ottoman Empire, show the manifold role of waqfs in the life of the cities on the Balkan Peninsula. We have to note that the Ottoman conquest of the South-Eastern European countries in 14-16th centuries was followed by active spreading of Islamic administrative standards and rules on these territories and inculcation of new forms of economic and socio-political life.