Greek writer and historian Antonis A. Chaldeos will present a virtual lecture entitled “The Greeks of the Sudan” next Thursday as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.
Because of its geographical position and its natural resources, Sudan was a territory with great political and economic importance. The Greeks’ presence in Sudan dates back to the first quarter of 19th century when they accompanied the Egyptian military campaign of 1821.
Gradually Greeks moved southwards throughout the biggest country of Africa and settled even in the most desolated areas, when no European had ever visited. Apart from being the most populous European community, Greeks were among the protagonists in Sudanese political and economic history.
In the 19th century, they fought besides General Gordon during the legendary siege of Khartoum. Later they were Kitchener’s army main suppliers in his effort to conquer Sudan. Since Greeks were also pioneers in the economic field, they contributed to Sudan’s development.
Actually their role is widely recognised and by far they are regarded as one of the major pillars of Sudan’s economic transformation during the first quarter of the 20th century. Finally, Greeks were also present in the struggle of South Sudan which led to its independence in 2011.
Antonis A. Chaldeos is a Greek historian and writer. He studied Social Anthropology and History and he holds a Ph.D in history from the University of Johannesburg. His scientific field involves the study of the Greek diaspora. He has taken part in international conferences and published 8 books and several articles in peer-reviewed journals. In 2017, he was honoured with the St. Marcos Holy Cross by the Patriarchate of Alexandria for his contribution to the promotion of the Hellenism in Africa.
Location: Zoom Webinar: https://bit.ly/2FJb7vI
YouTube Live Stream: https://www.youtube.com/user/gocmv
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Greekcommunitymelb/
Date: Thursday – 3 September 2020 @ 7:00pm
