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The first complete English translation of the introduction to a history of the world by the 14th-century Islamic scholar and statesman Ibn Khaldûn.
RENAISSANCEAD
Posted August 23, 2011
The Muqaddimah is a pleasurable read for experts with many surprises (in the background/sidelines). Rosenthal's bracket fillers are sometimes annoying and misleading. Khaldun finished the work in 1377, which is a pivotal year in both, the Renaissance and also the decline of Islam civilization into intellectual and economic poverty. It is written at a time where much of Islam's high culture had already been lost. The Muqaddimah is full of superstitions that replaced earlier Arab knowledge.
Khaldun's social economic system is based on group feeling (singular nationalism), social cooperation (socialism) and natural cycles of excessive wealth that corrupt civilizations. He recognizes urbanization as a key factor to prosperity. As a stark reminder to modernity, excess leads to living above means, according to Khaldun, and to the corruption of character. This, he argues, leads to the ruin of civilizations. Hence, his conclusion is that religion - his Sufi version of religion - is the only way to keep a civilization sane and modest. It is an important book that builds a bridge to some understanding of modern Muslim thought. Many of Khaldun's offerings are found in Gaddafi's Green book in a slightly modified version.
The historical narrative that is based on traditions (that were invented after the fact) are useless for the student of history.
For more information about how the traditions and the main Arab sects fit into history, see The Great Leap-Fraud.
Overview
The first complete English translation of the introduction to a history of the world by the 14th-century Islamic scholar and statesman Ibn Khaldûn.