It was a great step when The Coptic Encyclopedia, edited by Aziz Suryal Atiya (1898 – 1988) was published in 1991 by Macmillan (published digitally now by the School of Religion, Claremont Graduate University, U.S.). But that should be only seen as first step. Many of its articles are inadequate, and it needs to be reworked and refined. I give only one example to illustrate what I mean: Article CE:1517a-1518b, Mamluks and the Copts, which is published in Volume 5.
The history of the Copts under the Mamluks (1250 – 1517) is of paramount importance. The oppression and persecution of the Copts by the Mamluks, in 1265, 1283, 1301, 1321 and 1954, cannot be compared to any before or after them. They dealt a near fatal blow to our nation, and, yet, the Coptic Encyclopedia treats it with a short, inadequate article that does not capture or convey the severity of the oppression or its ominous effects on the Copts. The sources it cites are inadequate and are not the best sources for this topic.
A new, richer Coptic Encyclopedia is due.