Morris Keith Hopkins, FBA (

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, 20 June 1934–

, 8 March 2004), was a British

historian A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human species; as well as the ...

and sociologist. He was professor of ancient history at the

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

from 1985 to 2000. Hopkins had a relatively unconventional route to the Cambridge professorship. After Brentwood School, he graduated in

classics Classics, also classical studies or Ancient Greek and Roman studies, is the study of classical antiquity. In the Western world, ''classics'' traditionally refers to the study of Ancient Greek literature, Ancient Greek and Roman literature and ...

at King's College, Cambridge in 1958. He spent time as a graduate student, much influenced by Moses Finley, but left before completing his doctorate for an assistant lectureship in

sociology Sociology is the scientific study of human society that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. The term sociol ...

at the University of Leicester (1961–1963). Hopkins returned to Cambridge as a research fellow at King's College, Cambridge (1963–1967), while at the same time taking a lectureship at the

London School of Economics The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), established in 1895, is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the University of London. The school specialises in the social sciences. Founded ...

, before spending two years as professor of

at Hong Kong University (1967–1969). After a further two years at the LSE (1970–1972), he moved to Brunel University as professor of sociology in 1972, also serving as dean of the social sciences faculty from 1981 to 1985. He is best known for the book ''Conquerors and Slaves'', in which he argued that ancient historians need not submit to the sources they studied, but instead demanded they be questioned and understood within their larger context. His rethinking of traditionalist methodology, and disagreement with the traditionalist Fergus Millar, makes him one of the most influential twentieth-century ancient historians. In 1985, Hopkins was elected to the Cambridge Chair in Ancient History. The fullest account of his career and significance as an ancient historian is in his

British Academy The British Academy for the Promotion of Historical, Philosophical and Philological Studies is the United Kingdom's national academy for the humanities and the social sciences. It was established in 1902 and received its royal charter in the sa ...

obituary.

Publications

;Books *''Conquerors and Slaves'' (1978) *''Death and Renewal'' (1983) *''A World Full of Gods'' (1999) *''Rome The Cosmopolis'' (2002), a volume of essays written in honour of Keith Hopkins *''The Colosseum'' (2005), co-authored with Mary Beard *''Sociological Studies in Roman History'' (2017), a collection of previously published articles, edited by Christopher Kelly

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hopkins, Keith 1934 births 2004 deaths People educated at Brentwood School, Essex British sociologists Alumni of King's College, Cambridge Fellows of King's College, Cambridge Academics of Brunel University London Academics of the London School of Economics Academics of the University of Leicester Members of the University of Cambridge faculty of classics 20th-century British historians Professors of Ancient History (Cambridge) Fellows of the British Academy