Carole Hillenbrand (born 1946) is a British historian specializing in Islamic history and the Crusades. She is an emeritus professor of Islamic History at the University of Edinburgh, where she taught from 1976 until her retirement in 2016. Hillenbrand’s research focuses on the political, religious, and cultural interactions between the Islamic world and medieval Europe, with particular emphasis on the Crusading period from an Islamic perspective.
Education and Career
- Undergraduate studies in Arabic and Persian at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.
- Doctorate (Ph.D.) in History from the University of Edinburgh, completed in 1978, with a dissertation on the Abbasid Caliphate.
- Joined the University of Edinburgh as a lecturer in 1976, later promoted to senior lecturer, reader, and ultimately professor.
Research Interests
- Medieval Islamic political institutions.
- Crusades and their representation in Muslim sources.
- Interfaith relations in the medieval Mediterranean.
- Historical methodology in the study of Islamic historiography.
Selected Publications
- The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives (1999), a comprehensive account of the Crusading era based on Muslim primary sources.
- Islamic History: A Very Short Introduction (2000), part of the Oxford University Press "Very Short Introduction" series.
- The Experience of Crusading, 1095–1271 (2005), co-edited with John L. Esposito.
- Literature and Society in Medieval Islam (2015), a collection of essays on literary culture in the medieval Islamic world.
Professional Affiliations and Honors
- Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
- Member of the British Academy’s Medieval Studies Committee.
- Recipient of the Royal Society of Edinburgh's Research Fellowship (2004–2007) for work on Islamic historiography.
Impact Hillenbrand’s scholarship is noted for integrating Arabic and Persian sources into the study of the Crusades, thereby providing a more balanced view of the period. Her works are widely cited in both Islamic studies and medieval European history, and she has contributed to public understanding of the Crusades through lectures, media appearances, and advisory roles for documentary productions.