Hugh N. Kennedy

Quick Facts: Who was Hugh N. Kennedy?

Subject:

Hugh N. Kennedy

Known for:

Prominent British medievalist specializing in early Islamic history, Iberia, and the Crusades.

Born:

1947-10-22

Century / Era:

1947s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Hugh Nigel Kennedy (born 22 October 1947) is a British medievalist and academic. He specialises in the history of the early Islamic Middle East, Muslim Iberia and the Crusades. From 1997 to 2007, he was Professor of Middle Eastern History at the University of St Andrews. Since 2007, he has been Professor of Arabic at SOAS, University of London. Kennedy was born on 22 October 1947 in Hythe, Kent, England.

Career & Major Achievements

He spent a year 1965-6 studying at the Middle East Centre for Arab Studies at Shemlan in Lebanon; he had received a scholarship from the British Foreign Office. From 1966 to 1969, he studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge. He studied Arabic and Persian for Part 1 of the Tripos (achieving a 2:1), and history for Part II (achieving a first). He graduated from the University of Cambridge with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1969. From 1969 to 1972, he was a postgraduate student within the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Cambridge.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 1978 with a doctoral thesis titled Politics and the political élite in the early Abbasid Caliphate. In 1972, Kennedy joined the University of St Andrews as a Lecturer in Mediaeval History. He was promoted to Reader in 1990. He was appointed Professor of Middle Eastern History in 1997. He held a number of academic administration appointments at St Andrews: he was Deputy Head of the School of History from 1992 to 1998, and was Dean of the Faculty of Arts from 1995 to 1998.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1947 (1947-10-22): Birth of Hugh N. Kennedy — Prominent British medievalist specializing in early Islamic history, Iberia, and the Crusades.
2. 1965: 1965 Milestone — He spent a year 1965-6 studying at the Middle East Centre for Arab Studies at Shemlan in Lebanon; he had received a scholarship from the British Foreign Office.
3. 1966: 1966 Milestone — From 1966 to 1969, he studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge.
4. 1969: 1969 Milestone — He graduated from the University of Cambridge with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1969.
5. 1972: 1972 Milestone — In 1972, Kennedy joined the University of St Andrews as a Lecturer in Mediaeval History.
6. 1978: 1978 Milestone — He completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 1978 with a doctoral thesis titled Politics and the political élite in the early Abbasid Caliphate.
7. 1992: 1992 Milestone — He held a number of academic administration appointments at St Andrews: he was Deputy Head of the School of History from 1992 to 1998, and was Dean of the Faculty of Arts from 1995 to 1998.
8. 1997: 1997 Milestone — From 1997 to 2007, he was Professor of Middle Eastern History at the University of St Andrews.
9. 2007: 2007 Milestone — Since 2007, he has been Professor of Arabic at SOAS, University of London.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Hugh N. Kennedy

True or False: “Hugh Kennedy's primary area of historical specialization is the late Roman Empire.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): His expertise lies in the early Islamic Middle East, Muslim Iberia, and the Crusades, rather than the late Roman period.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Hugh N. Kennedy