The Muqaddimah
Quick Summary
The Muqaddimah, written by Ibn Khaldun, is a foundational work in the philosophy of history and sociology. It is an introduction to a universal history, aiming to establish criteria for distinguishing historical truth from error.
Ibn Khaldun developed a new science he called \u02bfilm al-\u02bfumr\u0101n, or "the science of culture," which studied human society and its transformations. His central concept is \u02bfa\u1e63abiyyah, or "social cohesion," which drives ruling groups to power. He observed that societies naturally progress from tribal life to civilization, but that increasing wealth and luxury lead to decadence. This cycle of rise and fall, he believed, was a fundamental aspect of history. The Muqaddimah is praised for its original insights into social phenomena and the interconnectedness of historical events.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
Arabic literatureVarieties of adab: compilations, anthologies, and manuals…whose introduction to his history Al-Muqaddimah is generally acknowledged as a major milestone in the theorization of historical studies. His geographical works range from the listing of postal routes to detailed descriptions of countries and, at a later stage, cities.
Read More…whose introduction to his history Al-Muqaddimah is generally acknowledged as a major milestone in the theorization of historical studies. His geographical works range from the listing of postal routes to detailed descriptions of countries and, at a later stage, cities.
Read More
Islamic artsHistoriography: Ibn KhaldūnIbn Khaldūn, in the famous Muqaddimah (“Introduction”) to a projected general history, Kitāb al-ʿibar, sought to explain the basic factors in the historical development of the Islamic countries. His own experiences, gained on a variety of political missions in North Africa, proved useful in establishing general principles that he could…
Read MoreIbn Khaldūn, in the famous Muqaddimah (“Introduction”) to a projected general history, Kitāb al-ʿibar, sought to explain the basic factors in the historical development of the Islamic countries. His own experiences, gained on a variety of political missions in North Africa, proved useful in establishing general principles that he could…
Read More- Islamic worldContinued spread of Islamic influence
In his Muqaddimah (the introduction to his multivolume world history) he used his training in falsafah to discern patterns in history. Transcending the critiques of historical method made by historians of the Būyid period, such as al-Masʿūdī, Ibn Miskawayh, and al-Ṣūlī, Ibn Khaldūn established careful standards of…
Read MoreIn his Muqaddimah (the introduction to his multivolume world history) he used his training in falsafah to discern patterns in history. Transcending the critiques of historical method made by historians of the Būyid period, such as al-Masʿūdī, Ibn Miskawayh, and al-Ṣūlī, Ibn Khaldūn established careful standards of…
Read More