The Muqaddimah (Selections)

Introduction

Ibn Khaldun set out to write a history of the world, but first wrote a long 'introduction' on the laws of history itself, and this introduction became his most important work. He criticised earlier historians for believing every report, and argued that sources must be tested by reason and that the influence of climate, geography, economy and social structure on human life must be studied. His most famous theory is that of asabiyya, group solidarity: nomadic tribes of the desert, strong in solidarity, conquer cities and found dynasties; in the luxury of the city a dynasty gradually loses its solidarity and after three or four generations declines, to be replaced by new nomads. Arnold Toynbee called it 'undoubtedly the greatest work of its kind that has ever yet been created by any mind in any time or place'. This volume translates its most important parts.