Critique Of Ibn Khaldun's Muqaddimah

The Critique of Ibn Khaldun’s Muqaddimah

Nathan Provost

History of the Middle East 600-1914

Dr. Serdar Poyraz

April 5, 2014

The Muqaddimah is a thirteenth century historical and sociological work that was written by one of the greatest historians at the time, Ibn Khaldun. His work was used all the way up until the 19th century because no other work has given so much in-depth detail to the history and society of the Middle East in the Middle Ages and prior to that. Ibn Khaldun has read more first-hand references to what really did happen, and understands how the Caliphates fell within the Middle East. He is very critical of other historians, but this is what makes him so accurate at this point in time. He comes up with theories that emphasize the importance of accurate references, science, politics, dynasties, and religion.

Ibn Khaldun was historian that followed a particular pattern to figure out the real truth behind history. He used a certain scientific method that he would use to solve sociological patterns, and told the real truth behind history. For instance, he mentioned that there was a historian who mentioned many soldiers between valleys before a battle, but Ibn Khaldun proved this to be untrue because if you were to go there then you could not fit 600,000 soldiers within that valley like al-Masudi said. He would use common sense to write history and learn about sociological theories from particular patterns unlike his counterparts who he greatly criticizes.

When it came to histography, Ibn Khaldun would constantly check his use of sources (which would be many) to constitute what he says. He does greatly criticize other historians because of the fact they would be bribed to write history in the way soldiers or ...

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...ld. Only nomadic tribes living within the Middle East can succeed in building a long dynasty.

Ibn Khaldun was the first historian and sociologist to write about Middle Eastern culture and thought. He was successfully able to do this by pointing out other historians’ flaws and recognizing his own references, discussing the rise and fall of civilizations, how Greek thought was incorporated or not incorporated within his work, and finally how jurisprudence brought the people together. His ideas set an example for many historians at the time and many of them correct. Even though some of his work doesn’t apply to today’s standard (one can only successfully live in a certain climate), but his theory on the rise and fall of a generational dynasty can apply to business techniques of today.

Reference

Khaldun, Ibn. The Muqaddimah. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2005.