Younan Labib Rizk
Encyclopedia
was a prominent Egyptian historian and literary figure. He was a professor of history at Ain Shams University
in Cairo; and was also appointed a member of the History Committee of the Supreme Council for Culture. He was formerly Director of Historical Studies at the Institute of Research and Arab Studies. Dr. Rizk was a prolific writer with a weekly column appearing in Al-Ahram
newspaper where he founded and headed the History Studies Centre. He was the author of several esteemed publications which rendered him an authority on Modern History, which was the subject of his MA and PhD degrees in 1963 and 1967 respectively. Dr. Rizk received numerous awards and medals, including State Incentive Award in Social Sciences in 1995. On the national level, he played a significant role in the dispute over Taba
with Israel in 1986-88. The issue was subject to international arbitration and was ruled in Egypt's favor.
" in a house built by his grandfather, Rizk Bek
Ibrahim, in 1912. After his retirement as chief of Azbakeya police force, his grandfather bought a farm in Kafr El-Sheikh
, where Rizk used to spend all his summers with his cousins. Orphaned at six, when his father passed away after a brief illness and was shortly followed by his grandfather, Rizk had to endure a strict discipline imposed by his mother, who was left on her own to take care of the family. Such an environment was most likely a pushing force that led him early in his life to discover Soor Elazbakeya (the fence of Azbakeya) which is known as a major used books market where Rizk used to spend hours and hours to satisfy his passion for reading.
After some hesitation following his graduation from high school, Rizk joined the Faculty of Science at Ibrahim Pasha's University, which was the name of Ain Shams University
when it was first established. Later and following his passion, he changed his major to humanities at the same university with a concentration in History. He obtained his BA in History in 1955. At first, Rizk was looking into a career in journalism; however, he ended up taking a job as a high school teacher in Ismailia
where he remained until 1959, when he moved back to Cairo to work in Khalil Agha High School for the following six years. During this period, he finished his MA degree in 1963 in Sudan Modern History and, four years later in 1967, he obtained his PhD degree. Rizk progressed into his academic career until he became a professor of Modern History at Ain Shams University
in 1979.
Rizk also participated in the negotiation with the Sudanese Team over Hala'ib
during the years 1992-1993.
He was appointed as a member of the Shura Council
for two consecutive periods in 1995 and 2001.
Ain Shams University
Ain Shams University is an institute of higher education located in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 1950, the university provides education at the undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels.-History:...
in Cairo; and was also appointed a member of the History Committee of the Supreme Council for Culture. He was formerly Director of Historical Studies at the Institute of Research and Arab Studies. Dr. Rizk was a prolific writer with a weekly column appearing in Al-Ahram
Al-Ahram
Al-Ahram , founded in 1875, is the most widely circulating Egyptian daily newspaper, and the second oldest after al-Waqa'i`al-Masriya . It is majority owned by the Egyptian government....
newspaper where he founded and headed the History Studies Centre. He was the author of several esteemed publications which rendered him an authority on Modern History, which was the subject of his MA and PhD degrees in 1963 and 1967 respectively. Dr. Rizk received numerous awards and medals, including State Incentive Award in Social Sciences in 1995. On the national level, he played a significant role in the dispute over Taba
Taba
- Places :Egypt:* Taba, Egypt, a town in Egypt near the Gulf of Aqaba.** Taba Border Crossing, a border crossing between Taba in Egypt and Eilat in Israel...
with Israel in 1986-88. The issue was subject to international arbitration and was ruled in Egypt's favor.
Early Life and Education
Rizk was born into a middle class family and lived his childhood in a popular district in Cairo "AzbakeyaAzbakeya
Azbakeya is one of the districts of Cairo, Egypt in the centre of Cairo, and contains many historically important establishments.One of these is the Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral , which was inaugurated by Pope Mark VIII in 1800. and served as the seat of the Coptic Pope in Cairo from...
" in a house built by his grandfather, Rizk Bek
Bek
Bek or BEK may refer to:*Bek, an alternative spelling of Bey, master*Khagan Bek, the title of the king of the Khazars*Bek Ohmsford, a character in the Shannara series of books*Bruce Eric Kaplan, a cartoonist for The New Yorker...
Ibrahim, in 1912. After his retirement as chief of Azbakeya police force, his grandfather bought a farm in Kafr El-Sheikh
Kafr el-Sheikh
Kafr el-Sheikh is the capital of Kafr el-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt, about 134 km north of Cairo, in the Nile Delta. As of November 2006, the town had a population of 147,380 inhabitants.-Factories:...
, where Rizk used to spend all his summers with his cousins. Orphaned at six, when his father passed away after a brief illness and was shortly followed by his grandfather, Rizk had to endure a strict discipline imposed by his mother, who was left on her own to take care of the family. Such an environment was most likely a pushing force that led him early in his life to discover Soor Elazbakeya (the fence of Azbakeya) which is known as a major used books market where Rizk used to spend hours and hours to satisfy his passion for reading.
After some hesitation following his graduation from high school, Rizk joined the Faculty of Science at Ibrahim Pasha's University, which was the name of Ain Shams University
Ain Shams University
Ain Shams University is an institute of higher education located in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 1950, the university provides education at the undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels.-History:...
when it was first established. Later and following his passion, he changed his major to humanities at the same university with a concentration in History. He obtained his BA in History in 1955. At first, Rizk was looking into a career in journalism; however, he ended up taking a job as a high school teacher in Ismailia
Ismaïlia
-Notable natives:*Osman Ahmed Osman, a famous and influential Egyptian engineer, contractor, entrepreneur, and politician, was born in this town on 6 April 1917....
where he remained until 1959, when he moved back to Cairo to work in Khalil Agha High School for the following six years. During this period, he finished his MA degree in 1963 in Sudan Modern History and, four years later in 1967, he obtained his PhD degree. Rizk progressed into his academic career until he became a professor of Modern History at Ain Shams University
Ain Shams University
Ain Shams University is an institute of higher education located in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 1950, the university provides education at the undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels.-History:...
in 1979.
National Role
During the years 1986 to 1988, Rizk was appointed by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a member in the negotiation team over Taba with Israel, with the responsibility of identifying the historical evidence which supports Egypt's right to Taba. Rizk prepared the historical chapters in the legal documentation, which played a significant role in the international arbiration process in 1988. Rizk recorded his experience in his book "Taba" issued in 1989 and he also participated in the preparation of "the White Book" issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Taba.Rizk also participated in the negotiation with the Sudanese Team over Hala'ib
Hala'ib
Hala'ib or Halayeb is a Red Sea port and town, located in the Hala'ib Triangle, a area disputed between Egypt and Sudan. The town lies on the southern tip of the Egyptian Red Sea Riviera and is near the ruins of medieval Aydhab...
during the years 1992-1993.
He was appointed as a member of the Shura Council
Shura Council
The Shura Council is the upper house of Egyptian bicameral Parliament. Its name roughly translates into English as "the Consultative Council". The lower house of parliament is the People's Assembly....
for two consecutive periods in 1995 and 2001.
Works
- Party Life in Egypt under the British Occupation 1882-1914, 1970
- Press Freedom in Egypt 1798-1924, 1973
- Sudan in the Egyptian-British Negotiations 1930-1936, 1974
- The Unity of the Nile Delta between the Treaty and Changing the Colonial Existence, 1975
- The History of the Egyptian Ministries 1878-1953, 1975
- Sudan under the First Dual Government 1899-1924, 1975
- Egyptian Parties pre the 1952 Revolution, 1977
- Egyptian-African Relations, 1977
- The Wafd and the Black Book, 1978
- The Problem of the Sudanese South, 1981
- The Historical Origins of the Taba Case, 1983
- The History of the Egyptian Parties 1907-1984, 1984
- Egypt Foreign Affairs Ministry 1826-1937, 1989
- Taba, 1989
- The Story of the Egyptian Parliament, 1991
- Historical Readings on the Gulf War, 1991
- Arabic-Turkish Relations, 1991
- Civil Egypt - Chapters in Origin and Development, 1993