Muslim historian, sociologist, and philosopher Ibn Khaldun,…
1382 CE
Muslim historian, sociologist, and philosopher Ibn Khaldun, born in 1332 into a distinguished Arab family in Tunis and thoroughly educated, has spent the past thirty years alternating between active involvement in the turbulent politics of North Africa and Spain and scholarly retirement.
Residing at Fez, enjoying the patronage and confidence of the regent, Ibn Khaldūn's political skills, above all his good relationship with the wild Berber tribes, are in high demand among the North African rulers, whereas he himself had begun to tire of politics and constant switching of allegiances.
Sent by Abū Hammu, the Abdalwadid Sultan of Tlemcen, on a mission to the Dawadida tribes in 1375, Ibn Khaldūn had sought refuge with one of the Berber tribes, the Awlad Arif of central Algeria, in the town of Qalat Ibn Salama.
He had lived there for over three years under their protection, taking advantage of his seclusion to write the Muqaddimah Prolegomena, the introduction to his planned history of the world.
In Ibn Salama, however, he lacked the necessary texts to complete the work.
As a result, in 1378, he had returned to his native Tunis, which in the meantime had been conquered by the former Sultan of Tlemcen, Abū l-Abbas, who had taken Ibn Khaldūn back into his service.
Here he has devoted himself almost exclusively to his studies and completed his history of the world.
His relationship with Abū l-Abbas remains strained, as the latter questions his loyalty.
This is brought into sharp contrast after Ibn Khaldūn presents him with a copy of the completed history omitting the usual panegyric to the ruler.
Under pretense of going on the Hajj to Mecca—something for which a Muslim ruler cannot simply refuse permission—Ibn Khaldūn, now fifty, is able to leave Tunis and sail to Alexandria.
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