Egipt międzywojenny w relacjach Polaków

Abstract

After 1918 Europeans travelled across the world seeking all exotic things hoping that it would help them reinvent their own culture traumatized by the Great War. Poles followed that path, willing to rest from politics after regaining their long-lost independence. They would visit Egypt for many reasons: most often as pilgrims on their way to Holy Land, some were scholars and scientists attending academic conferences, others wanted to conduct their own research or were simply students trying to broaden their knowledge in the field of Oriental studies. Some explored the country as tourists, while others were seeking inspiration for their artwork. Among Poles who travelled to Interwar Egypt most belonged to the well-educated middle class: they were scholars, lawmen, medical doctors, journalists, writers, Catholic priests. In their writings Poles would describe two Egypts: the ancient one, which was perceived as a despotic monarchy based on brutal exploitation of its people, and the modern Arabic one, with its current socio-political issues and Egyptians still learning the basics of parliamentary system. Poles also tried to learn what Egyptians knew and thought about Poland and its citizens.