Prominent Lebanese-Syrian historian honored

Leading Arab historian Dr. Nichola Ziyadeh was recently honored in Beirut by the Odyssa Commission marking his 90th birthday. Prominent men of letters, intellectuals and thinkers from Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan took part in celebrations held for the purpose.

Syrian writer Salma al-Haffar Kuzbari spoke of Ziyadeh as "teacher of teachers." Dr. Abdul Menem Majid, a university professor from Egypt, talked about Ziyadeh as a historian. Muhammad Kheir Fares, the head of history department, Damascus university, spoke of Ziyadeh as leader of the Arab historians and encyclopedist. Other speakers highlighted Ziyadeh's rich contributions to Arab culture.

Ziyadeh is a teacher in the history department at American University in Beirut. He wrote several studies and books on history. Among the most outstanding books are: "Pioneers of the Arab Mashreq (East) in Medieval ages", "Nationality and Arab identity", "Glimpses of the Arab History", and "Lebnaniyat" ("From Lebanon").

The aforesaid books are written in Arabic in addition to more than fifty books on history. His best and main writings in English are "The Crisis of Modern Man," published in 1959, "Islamic Studies" in 1960, and "The History of Humans" in 1981.

Ziyadeh was born in Damascus in 1907, and he loved Beirut in the same way he loved Damascus. He says: "I love Beirut for one hundred reasons but I can only count ten."