The Muqaddimah

Ibn Khaldun wrote the Muqaddimah in 1377 as the introduction to his larger Kitab al-Ibar. It outgrew that role and became one of the most important works ever written on how societies change.

What you will find

• A critique of historical reports and how to test them.
• The theory of asabiyya and the life cycle of states.
• How environment and livelihood shape people's character.
• Early ideas about labour, value and taxation.

Who it is for

Anyone interested in history, sociology or political economy. It exists in many critical editions and has been translated into many languages, including English, French and Spanish.