Turkish has always been a matter of curiosity and need outside the

borders of the Republic of Turkey. Turkology, which investigates Turk-

ishness, the Turkish language and dialects, as well as Turkish culture,

civilization, and history, started to develop as a discipline in 19th-century

Europe before quickly gaining prevalence. The study of Turkish as a

scientific language in the Balkan geography started after the Ottoman

Empire had withdrawn from these lands. The first Turkology center in

the Balkan geography was established at the University of Belgrade,

and the primary purpose behind its establishment was the Serbs’ need

to know Turkish to be able to understand their own language and cul-

ture. After Belgrade, Turkology centers were opened in other Balkan

cities such as Sarajevo and Skopje, and various studies were also being

carried out. This study aims to reveal the establishment and historical

development of Turkology as a branch of science in the central Balkan

countries. Alongside the Turkology centers, the study also discusses the

history of teaching Turkish as a foreign language (TTFL) in this region

by using qualitative research methods. Based on the obtained data, two

main reasons are seen to have emerged for Turkology studies to begin

in central Balkan countries. The first has been concluded as the need

for the Turkish language to carry out more detailed studies on their

language and culture. The second is the presence of the indigenous

Turkish people living in North Macedonia and Kosovo.