Ibn Khaldun

Philosopher
Writer & Historian
Diplomat
Teacher

Africa
Iberia

Born: May 27, 1332
Died: March 17, 1406 (some references have 1395)

"He who finds a new path is a pathfinder, even if the trail has to be found again by others; and he who walks far ahead of his contemporaries is a leader, even though centuries pass before he is recognized as such."

Abu Zayd 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Khaldun was born to an illustrious family and received a good education. He served as assistant and secretary to several government officials. Ibn Khaldun's career was dependent on the good will of his superiors, and he changed jobs frequently when political winds shifted. He led an extremely eventful life, traveling to, among other places, Mecca, Damascus. Palestine and Seville, and occasionally finding enough leisure time to teach, study, and write. Among the notable personalities Ibn Khaldun encountered in his adventures were King Pedro I of Castile and Timur.

Ibn Khaldun's most significant work is the Muqaddimah. In this "introduction" to history, he discussed historical method and provided the necessary criteria for distinguishing historical truth from error. The Muqaddimah is considered one of the most phenomenal works on the philosophy of history ever written.

Ibn Khaldun also wrote a definitive history of Muslim North Africa, as well as an account of his eventful life in an autobiography entitled Al-ta'rif bi Ibn Khaldun.

For more information about Ibn Khaldun's extraordinary life, visit your Guide's Concise Biography of Ibn Khaldun.

Concise Biography
Ibn Khaldun on the Web
Ibn Khaldun in Print

Philosophy & Theology
Medieval Africa
Medieval Iberia
Medieval Islam



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