Gamal Hamdan

Gamal Hamdan (Arabic: جمال حمدان; February 2, 1928 – April 17, 1993) was an Egyptian geographer and scholar known for his extensive work on Egypt's geography, history, and culture.

Hamdan was born on February 2, 1928, in the Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt[^1]. He received his primary and secondary education in Egypt, showing an early aptitude for geography[^1]. Hamdan pursued higher education at Cairo University, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction[^1].

Following his undergraduate studies, Hamdan received a scholarship to study at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. There, he earned his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees under the guidance of Professor Austen Miller, a prominent geographer of the time[^2].

After completing his doctoral studies, Hamdan returned to Egypt and became a faculty member at Cairo University[^1]. His academic work primarily focused on the geography, history, and culture of Egypt and the Arab world.

Hamdan is best known for his trilogy on Egypt's character and its position in the world:

1. The Personality of Egypt

2. Studies of the Arab World

3. The Contemporary Islamic World Geography

"The Personality of Egypt" is considered his magnum opus, taking ten years to complete and drawing from over 900 references in multiple languages[^3].

Hamdan was a prolific writer, authoring numerous books and articles in both Arabic and English. Some of his notable works include:

- Studies on the Arab World (1958)

- Patterns of Environments (1958)

- The Arab City (1964)

- Anthropology of Jews (1967)

- The Contemporary Islamic World (1971)

- Egypt's Identity: A Study in the Genius of the Place (1975-84, four volumes)

Hamdan's work is characterized by a multidisciplinary approach, integrating geography with history, sociology, politics, and culture[^3]. He emphasized the unique geographical and historical aspects of Egypt and their influence on its development and character.

Hamdan received several awards for his academic contributions, including:

- State Incentive Prize for Arts and Letters (1959)

- State Merit Prize for Social Science (1986)

- Scientific Criticism Award by the State of Kuwait (1986)

- Order of Merit of the First Class for Science and Arts (1988)

However, reports suggest that Hamdan declined to accept most awards after 1959, preferring to focus on his academic work[^4].

• Gamal Hamdan passed away on April 17, 1993. His work continues to be studied and referenced in academic circles, particularly in the fields of Egyptian and Arab world studies.

• Mohamed Riad

• [^1]: El-Gowhary, S. (2005). "Gamal Hamdan: The Arab Geographer". Arab World Geographer, 8(3), 186-195. [^2]: Miller, A. (1995). "In Memoriam: Gamal Hamdan, 1928-1993". Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 20(1), 127-128. [^3]: Abou-Zeid, A. (2000). "The Legacy of Gamal Hamdan: A Geographical Perspective". Middle Eastern Studies, 36(2), 93-106. [^4]: Said, E. (1994). "The Pen and the Sword: The Life and Work of Gamal Hamdan". Al-Ahram Weekly, 23-29 June 1994.