When considering the origins of a city, it is important to consider more than the archaeological traces. Physical structures are simply part of the city's history. To fully understand its roots, we must also look at the non-physical aspects of its origin. This includes the analysis of social trends that have influenced the development of the city beyond the physical structures.1 By attending to these aspects as well, we can deepen our understanding of the history of the city. Before the formation of the city, there was a wider social and natural context that included villages, religious areas, camps, as structures of coexistence. Early society showed a continuous tendency for spatial positioning and organization, a characteristic that is reflected in the final form of the city. Beyond material structures, the city is an expression of human needs for cooperation, social interaction and cultural development. Cities provide the environment for the development of communities, encourage the exchange of ideas and create and develop specialized skills. This platform is dedicated to the history of Pristina from the XllI to XlX century. The period that included the development of the city under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Urban changes in Balkan cities, including Pristina, were profound and easily observable. Under their influence, cities were transformed through specific practices and characteristics.

The Islamic ideology of the Ottoman Empire was accompanied by profound urban changes in the conquered cities. One of the most visible manifestations of this change was the conversion of churches into mosques, a clear sign of the new power and a manifestation of the cultural and religious transformation of the city. Bazaars also played an important role in urban life during the Ottoman Empire. They became the economic centers of the cities, serving as places of commerce and spaces for socialization and cultural activities that reflected urban life. High defensive walls were another important characteristic of cities during the Ottoman Empire. These walls symbolized the authority and identity of the city, while also serving as protection from external dangers, making the city a safe place for its inhabitants.

Prishtina, with its geographical position and natural protection from the mountains, which formed a natural amphitheater, was an important strategic point for trade and communication in the Balkans. Although the city did not have a significant military position, it was important for the movement and transit of people and goods, making the placement of defensive walls pointless. Demographics may be an indication that Pristina was not created by the Turks, but discovered by them. However, even for security, concern could only come from within, from Albanians who might rebel against the empire, and not from outside. Therefore, before it became a city in today's sense, Pristina had all the features of a city, except for the protective walls that were never built. In this sense, the people of Pristina belong to what Plato describes as the most valuable explanation of humanity - the creation of the city.2

The city of Pristina, under Ottoman rule, experienced fundamental changes in its spatial and social structure.3 The conquest was the key factor that caused these changes, bringing a new social order and a new spatial organization. The city and urban structure in this period was divided into four functional groups: housing, economic activities, religious-cultural activities and public spaces. In the center of Pristina was the czarshia, the commercial district where the main building was the bedesteni, a market covered with a roof and large doors, where the goods of the merchants were stored. Craftsmen, or merchants, had their shops in this quarter.4 In the 8th century, the bazaar had over 500 shops organized according to craft for the production and trade of handicraft products. Among other things, clothes, carpets and other products were produced from cotton and linen. In 1912/13, the bedesten was destroyed when the bazaar burned down. Agricultural products met the needs of the country and some of them were exported. In the area around Pristina, the population was engaged in animal husbandry as there were pastures and forests. Therefore, an important part of the economic activity was the raising of sheep, cows, horses and other domestic animals.

Pristina has been the site of some of the relatively large fairs in the Western Balkans, organized twice a year, and lasting 15 days. These events often attracted between 12,000 and 15,000 merchants, not only from the Ottoman Empire, but also from Europe. They brought with them products from the most distant regions of the Empire and abroad. Guilds were part of the neighborhood hierarchy, a broad group that included merchants, artisans, and other professionals. They represented the interests of merchants before the authorities and had an important role in organizing the social and economic life of the city. Guilds had a special hierarchical structure, certain rules and standards to guarantee the quality of their products and services. In many cases, they also had an important role in preserving the traditions and culture of their neighborhood.

Since antiquity, the construction of cities has had a special emphasis on honoring the lords. They built temples and cult monuments that served as places of worship and religious ceremonies. In the context of Ottoman cities, this tradition continued. The city of Pristina built important buildings that had a cultural and religious role. Cult facilities and accompanying infrastructure were key points in the city. For example, the most important mosques were located in the center of the city, often near the bazaar, symbolizing the connection between economic activity and Islamic religious practices. Other objects such as fountains, where the cleaning process took place before prayers, and the clock tower, for marking the time of prayers, served the needs of religious and social practices. Also, steam baths (hamami) were an essential part of the urban landscape of the city, providing a special environment for personal cleanliness and relaxation, as well as bringing people together in a social and cultural setting. These elements of the Ottoman city indicated a harmonious coexistence between urban life, religious activities and social practices. The maintenance of such institutions was mainly carried out through waqfs, funds established by families as a form of tax or pious donations, to help maintain and build public structures.

City quarters were private spheres where residents lived their daily lives organized according to local rules and traditions. These neighborhoods, divided by ethnicity, religion, belief or geographic origin, developed their own unique identities. The social structure of the city was often reflected in the appearance of the neighborhoods, where the wealthiest classes lived in the center of the city, while the poorest lived in the suburbs. The neighborhoods were mostly populated with bungalows and private gardens in front of them. The lack of greenery in the city's narrow streets was compensated by these gardens in front of each residential house. Prishtina also counted a considerable number of inns for passers-by and visitors of the time. Some of the important writings about Pristina of that period can be found precisely through the written accounts of these passers-by, who describe Pristina as a welcoming and clean city.

The economic growth of Ottoman cities during the 17th and 18th centuries allowed many residents to climb the social ladder, creating an urban elite interested in preserving local architectural traditions. This has left its mark on the appearance of the cities, including the construction of new public and private buildings that follow the architectural patterns of the capital.5 Nowadays, little remains of this heritage of Pristina's old town. Some buildings are being renovated recently, but most of the old town was destroyed during the Yugoslav period as part of an attempt to erase the city's historical heritage. However, Prishtina cannot be reduced to just the old city walls that remain today. It has existed and developed beyond these boundaries, changing and growing in different ways over the centuries. The heritage of the old town of Pristina is much wider than the architectural structures that remain. It includes the history, culture, and traditions of its people. This heritage is felt in the streets and squares of the old town, in the cultural and artistic events, and in the identity of the community. Although many of the physical structures have been destroyed, Pristina's heritage has not completely disappeared.

Prishtina has been an important urban and cultural center in the Balkans and has influenced the historical development of the region. Its rich historical and cultural heritage remains an important source for understanding the city's identity and history, providing a glimpse into the life and legacy of Pristina's population over the centuries.

The author is a researcher of philosophy, a political activist with a special interest in the urban development of cities. This article was mainly based on the sources that can be found here.