Robin Osborne
Encyclopedia
Robin Osborne is an English historian
of classical antiquity
, who is particularly interested in Ancient Greece
. He grew up in Little Bromley
, attending Little Bromley County Primary School and then Colchester Royal Grammar School
. He was an undergraduate at King's College, Cambridge
, where he also took a PhD
degree.
Between 1982 - 1986 Osborne was a Junior Unofficial Fellow at King's College, Cambridge. In 1986 he moved to Oxford University, initially as a three year fixed term Fellow
at Magdalen College, Oxford
before in 1989 being appointed a University Lecturer in Ancient History and a Fellow of Corpus Christi College
.
In 2001 Osborne returned to Cambridge to take up the position of Professor of Ancient History
and was appointed a Fellow of King's College. He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2006. In the same year he was elected chair of the Council of University Classical Departments for a three-year term; in 2009 he was re-elected for a second and final term of office.
He was President of the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies
, 2002–2006. Osborne serves as the executive editor for World Archaeology
, an academic journal
published by Routledge
, and is a member of the editorial board
s of several other renowned journals including the Journal of Hellenic Studies
, the Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology and the American Journal of Archaeology
.
Osborne is the author of standard monographs on archaic Greek history (Greece in the Making 1200–479 BC) and on Greek art (Archaic and Classical Greek Art); he has written seminal articles on Athenian law, ancient social and economic history, and Classical art and archaeology.
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 race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
of classical antiquity
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
, who is particularly interested in Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
. He grew up in Little Bromley
Little Bromley
Little Bromley is a village and civil parish in the Tendring district of Essex. The name "Bromley" is Old English for "broomy wood/clearing". The village lies east northeast of Colchester and south of Manningtree. It is surrounded by the parishes of Lawford, Ardleigh, Great Bromley, Little...
, attending Little Bromley County Primary School and then Colchester Royal Grammar School
Colchester Royal Grammar School
Colchester Royal Grammar School is a grammar school in Colchester, Essex, founded in AD 1206 and granted two Royal Charters by Henry VIII and by Elizabeth I .-Admissions:...
. He was an undergraduate at King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, where he also took a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree.
Between 1982 - 1986 Osborne was a Junior Unofficial Fellow at King's College, Cambridge. In 1986 he moved to Oxford University, initially as a three year fixed term Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
at Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
before in 1989 being appointed a University Lecturer in Ancient History and a Fellow of Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom...
.
In 2001 Osborne returned to Cambridge to take up the position of Professor of Ancient History
Professor of Ancient History, Cambridge University
The Professorship of Ancient History at the University of Cambridge was established by grace of 27 October 1898. The original electors were the Vice-Chancellor and eight persons elected by the Senate, two being nominated by the Council of the Senate, three by the General Board, and three by the...
and was appointed a Fellow of King's College. He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2006. In the same year he was elected chair of the Council of University Classical Departments for a three-year term; in 2009 he was re-elected for a second and final term of office.
He was President of the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies
Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies
The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies, known as the Hellenic Society, was founded in 1879 to advance the study of Greek language, literature, history, art and archaeology in the Ancient, Byzantine and Modern periods....
, 2002–2006. Osborne serves as the executive editor for World Archaeology
World Archaeology
World Archaeology is a peer reviewed academic journal in the field of archaeology. The journal examines current issues in archaeology and anthropology from all around the globe, and also publishes research findings and archaeological survey results across a broad spectrum of historical and...
, an academic journal
Academic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
published by Routledge
Routledge
Routledge is a British publishing house which has operated under a succession of company names and latterly as an academic imprint. Its origins may be traced back to the 19th-century London bookseller George Routledge...
, and is a member of the editorial board
Editorial board
The editorial board is a group of people, usually at a publication, who dictate the tone and direction the publication's editorial policy will take.- Board makeup :...
s of several other renowned journals including the Journal of Hellenic Studies
Journal of Hellenic Studies
The Journal of Hellenic Studies is a peer-reviewed academic journal which contains articles that pertain to Hellenic studies, i.e. the language, literature, history, and archaeology of the ancient Greek world, and reviews of recent books of importance to Hellenic studies. It is published annually...
, the Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology and the American Journal of Archaeology
American Journal of Archaeology
The American Journal of Archaeology , the peer-reviewed journal of the Archaeological Institute of America, has been published since 1897...
.
Osborne is the author of standard monographs on archaic Greek history (Greece in the Making 1200–479 BC) and on Greek art (Archaic and Classical Greek Art); he has written seminal articles on Athenian law, ancient social and economic history, and Classical art and archaeology.