Muqaddimah : An Introduction to History

by KHALDUN IBN

• ISBN13: 9780691017549
• ISBN10: 0691017549
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1967-06-01
• Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr

Table of Contents

Introduction	vii
N. J. Dawood
Invocation	3	(2)
Foreword	5	(6)
The Introduction	11	(22)
The excellence of historiography
An appreciation of the various approaches to history
A glimpse of the different kinds of errors to which historians are liable
Why these errors occur
Book One of the Kitab Al-`Ibar	33	(12)
The nature of civilization
Bedouin and settled life, the achievements of superiority, gainful occupations, ways of making a living, sciences, crafts, and all the other things that affect civilization
The causes and reasons thereof
Human civilization in general	45	(46)
First Prefatory Discussion	45	(4)
Second Prefatory Discussion	49	(9)
The parts of the earth where civilization is found
Some information about oceans, rivers, and zones
Third Prefatory Discussion	58	(5)
The temperate and the intemperate zones
The influence of the air upon the colour of human beings and upon many other aspects of their condition
Fourth Prefatory Discussion	63	(2)
The influence of climate upon human character
Fifth Prefatory Discussion	65	(5)
Differences with regard to abundance and scarcity of food in the various inhabited regions and how they affect the human body and character
Sixth Prefatory Discussion	70	(21)
The various types of human beings who have supernatural perception either through natural disposition or through exercise, preceded by a discussion of inspiration and dream visions
Bedouin civilization, savage nations and tribes and their conditions of life, including several basic and explanatory statements	91	(32)
On dynasties, royal authority, the caliphate, government ranks, and all that goes with these things. The chapter contains basic and supplementary propositions	123	(140)
Countries and cities, and all other forms of sedentary civilization. The conditions occurring there. Primary and secondary considerations in this connection	263	(34)
On the various aspects of making a living, such as profit and the crafts. The conditions that occur in this connection. A number of problems are connected with this subject	297	(36)
The various kinds of sciences. The methods of instruction. The conditions that obtain in these conditions	333	(126)
Prefatory Discussion
On man's ability to think, which distinguishes human beings from animals and which enables them to obtain their livelihood, to co-operate to this end with their fellow men, and to study the Master whom they worship, and the revelations that the Messengers transmitted from Him
God thus caused all animals to obey man and to be in the grasp of his power
Through his ability to think, God gave man superiority over many of His creatures
Concluding Remark	459	(1)
Index	460