IBN KHALDOUN
(1332-1406) Muslim historian and sociologist.
Ibn Khaldoun's family was of the Tunisian elite, and he received a thorough education. He served at several courts in Maghreb. Still, due to the unstability of his time, he was twice imprisoned.
It was during one of his imprisonments, in what is today's Algeria, that he wrote his famous
Foreword, (muqaddama) which would become the first volume of his
Universal History (kitab al-cabru).
Ibn Khaldoun's fame was so widespread even in his own days, that in 1400 he was received as an honoured guest with the Tatar ruler, Tamerlane.
The
Universal History is a central source for the knowledge of the history of North Africa, and the Berber people. But it is his
Foreword, in which he outlines his philosophy of history, explaining how dynasties had a tendency to last for a period of 3 generations, after which a new dynasty would wipe it out.
Typically, North African dynasties, like the ones of the Almohads and Almoravids, had lasted about a century, or 3 generations.
Underlying this theory was the observation that the first generation of a dynasty retained the hard and demanding life of the countryside, while the second generation would be absorbed into the local culture, and the third generation degenerated into decadence, as it acquired all the trappings of urban life.
The weak third generation would to a large degree lack the capacity to defend itself, and was therefore an easy victim for the attack of a new rural dynasty.
Ibn Khaldoun saw a strong connection between social change and the climate and the level of economic activity. Societies were held together by social cohesiveness, and according to his theories religion served as a strengthening factor.
BIOGRAPHY
1332: Born in Tunis, in a family belonging to the Tunisian elite.
1375: Imprisoned for a period of 4 years, during which he writes his famous
Foreword, (muqaddama).
1382: Ibn Khaldoun receives a chair at the al-Azhar University in Cairo, acting as a judge and a teacher of Sharia, Muslim law.
1400: Is received as an honoured guest with the Tatar ruler, Tamerlane.
Also Ibn Khaldun is the most important figure in the field of History and Sociology in Muslim History. He is one of those shining stars that contributed so richly to the understanding of Civilization. In order for one to understand and appreciate his work, one must understand his life. He lived a life in search of stability and influence. He came from a family of scholars and politicians and he intended to live up to both expectations. He would succeed in the field of Scholarship much more so than in any other field.
Ibn Tafrakin, the ruler of Tunis, called Ibn Khaldun to be the seal bearer of his captive Sultan Abu lshaq. It is here that Ibn Khaldun would get first hand look at the inner workings of court politics and the weakness of the government. It would not be long before he would get an opportunity to leave Tunis.
In 1352 (713 A. H.) Abu Ziad, the Emir of Constantine, marched his forces on Tunis. Ibn Khaldun accompanied Ibn Tafrakin with the forces that would ward off Abu Ziad’s attacks. Tunis was defeated and Ibn Khaldun escaped to Aba, where he lived with al-Mowahideen. He would move back and forth through Algeria and settled in Biskra.
[font=verdana][size=2]At that same time in Morocco Sultan Abu Enan, who had recently settled on the throne of his father, wa
IBN KHALDUN
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