Hugh N Kennedy

Professor Hugh N Kennedy is a distinguished academic at SOAS University of London, holding dual affiliations with the School of History, Religions and Philosophies and the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics. As a Professor of Arabic, he specializes in Early Islamic History (600-1100 CE), with particular focus on Arabic historiography, Islamic archaeology, and the historical geography of the Middle East. His research also examines castle building in the region and the history of al-Andalus. He holds a PhD (Cantab) and has supervised doctoral candidates including Ummugulsum Kurukol and Zhicheng Ye. His publications span authored books, edited volumes, and numerous articles exploring topics like the Abbasid Caliphate, Islamic economic systems, and comparative political histories. He is based at the Russell Square campus and can be contacted via hk1@soas.ac.uk.

Research Interests: Kennedy’s work bridges textual analysis and material culture, investigating how political structures, military campaigns, and cultural exchanges shaped the early Islamic world. He examines themes such as the evolution of governance systems, the role of pilgrimage economies, and the interaction between religious and temporal authority. His scholarship frequently engages with primary sources like al-Baladhuri’s Futuh al-Buldan and Ibn Wāḍiḥ al-Yaʿqūbī’s writings, contextualizing them within broader historical narratives.

• Key Publications: Includes seminal works on the Abbasid Caliphate, the conquests of the Arab armies, and comparative analyses between Islamic and Byzantine governance.
• Teaching: Contributes to SOAS’s MA History program, focusing on the Global South through decolonial and interdisciplinary approaches.
• Professional Affiliations: Active in academic networks promoting the study of pre-modern Middle Eastern history and cultural heritage.