Toby Alexander Howard Wilkinson, (born 1969) is an English

Egyptologist Egyptology (from ''Egypt'' and Greek , '' -logia''; ar, علم المصريات) is the study of ancient Egyptian history, language, literature, religion, architecture and art from the 5th millennium BC until the end of its native religiou ...

and academic. After studying Egyptology at the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

, he was Lady Wallis Budge Research Fellow in Egyptology at

Christ's College, Cambridge Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college includes the Master, the Fellows of the College, and about 450 undergraduate and 170 graduate students. The college was founded by William Byngham in 1437 as ...

(1993 to 1997) and then a research fellow at the

University of Durham , mottoeng = Her foundations are upon the holy hills ( Psalm 87:1) , established = (university status) , type = Public , academic_staff = 1,830 (2020) , administrative_staff = 2,640 (2018/19) , chancellor = Sir Thomas Allen , vice_cha ...

(1997 to 1999). He became a Fellow of

Clare College, Cambridge Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college was founded in 1326 as University Hall, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. It was refound ...

in 2003. He was Deputy Vice Chancellor (External Relations) at the

University of Lincoln , mottoeng = Freedom through wisdom , established = 1861 – Hull School of Art1905 – Endsleigh College1976 – Hull College1992 – University of Humberside1996 – University of Lincolnshire and Humberside2001 � ...

from 2017 to 2021, and then Vice Chancellor of

Fiji National University Fiji National University is a public university in Fiji that was formally constituted on 15 February 2010 by the Fiji National University Act 2009. By 2019, student numbers at the University had grown to almost 27,000. While each of the colle ...

from January 2021 to December 2021. Since 2022, he has been Fellow for Development at Clare College, Cambridge. Wilkinson was awarded the 2011

Hessell-Tiltman Prize The Hessell-Tiltman History Prize is awarded to the best work of non-fiction of historical content covering a period up to and including World War II, and published in the year of the award. The books are to be of high literary merit, but not pr ...

for his book ''The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt: the History of a Civilisation from 3000 BC to Cleopatra''.

Early life

Wilkinson was born in 1969. He read

Egyptology Egyptology (from ''Egypt'' and Greek , '' -logia''; ar, علم المصريات) is the study of ancient Egyptian history, language, literature, religion, architecture and art from the 5th millennium BC until the end of its native relig ...

Downing College, Cambridge Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge and currently has around 650 students. Founded in 1800, it was the only college to be added to Cambridge University between 1596 and 1869, and is often described as the old ...

. He graduated with a first class

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four yea ...

(BA) degree, and was awarded the Thomas Mulvey Egyptology Prize. He completed his

Doctor of Philosophy A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...

(PhD) degree at

in 1993, with a

doctoral thesis A thesis ( : theses), or dissertation (abbreviated diss.), is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings.International Standard ISO 7144: ...

titled "Eygpt in transition: predynastic-early dynastic chronology and the effects of state formation".

Academic career

Wilkinson's first academic position, from 1993 to 1997, was as Lady Wallis Budge Research Fellow in Egyptology at

. From 1997 to 1999, he was Leverhulme Special Research Fellow at the

. After this he decided to change direction from academia. Wilkinson returned to Cambridge and became a

Fellow A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

in 2003. He set up the college's development office, focusing on communications, fundraising and external relations, and served as director of development from 2003 to 2010. He is a member of the editorial board of the ''

Journal A journal, from the Old French ''journal'' (meaning "daily"), may refer to: *Bullet journal, a method of personal organization *Diary, a record of what happened over the course of a day or other period *Daybook, also known as a general journal, a ...

of Egyptian History''. He is an honorary research fellow in the Department of Archaeology, University of Durham. In July 2011, he became head of the International Strategy Office at the University of Cambridge. In this position, he developed the University's international strategy and helped facilitate international collaborations. In 2017, he became Deputy Vice Chancellor (External Relations) at the

. In January 2021, he moved to the South Pacific to become

Vice Chancellor A chancellor is a leader of a college or university, usually either the executive or ceremonial head of the university or of a university campus within a university system. In most Commonwealth and former Commonwealth nations, the chancellor ...

. However, in August 2021, it was announced that he was to step down in December 2021 due to "personal family reasons", and he subsequently returned to the United Kingdom. In March 2022, it was announced that he would return to Clare College, Cambridge as Fellow for Development: he took up the appointment on 3 May 2022.

Honours

In 2011, Wilkinson won the

, awarded to the best work of non-fiction of historical content, for his book ''The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt: the History of a Civilisation from 3000 BC to Cleopatra''. On 3 March 2017, Wilkinson was elected a

Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

(FSA). He is also a Fellow of the

Royal Historical Society The Royal Historical Society, founded in 1868, is a learned society of the United Kingdom which advances scholarly studies of history. Origins The society was founded and received its royal charter in 1868. Until 1872 it was known as the Histori ...

Selected works

* ''State Formation in Egypt: Chronology and Society'' (1996), British Archaeological Reports (BAR) International * ''Early Dynastic Egypt'' (1999), Routledge * ''Royal Annals of Ancient Egypt: the Palermo Stone and Its Associated Fragments'' (2000), Kegan Paul * ''Genesis of the Pharaohs: Dramatic New Discoveries That Rewrite the Origins of Ancient Egypt'' (2003), Thames & Hudson * ''The Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Ancient Egypt'' (2nd edition 2008), Thames & Hudson * ''Lives of the Ancient Egyptians: Pharaohs, Queens, Courtiers and Commoners'' (2007) * (Editor) ''The Egyptian World'' (2009), Routledge * ''The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt'' (2010). Published by Bloomsbury (UK) on 2 August 2010 and by Random House (USA) on 15 March 2011 *''The Nile: A Journey Downriver Through Egypt's Past and Present'' (2014), Knopf *''Aristocrats and Archaeologists: An Edwardian Journey on the Nile'' (2017), The American University in Cairo Press *''A World Beneath the Sands: The Golden Age of Egyptology'' (2020), W. W. Norton *''Tutankhamun's Trumpet: The Story of Ancient Egypt in 100 Objects'' (2022), Pan MacMillan

References

External links

Toby Wilkinson's official website
Living people 1969 births English Egyptologists Fellows of Clare College, Cambridge Fellows of the Royal Historical Society Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London {{Egyptologist-stub