When was Ibn Khaldun born and where did he originate from?
Abu Zayd Abd al-Rahman bin Muhammad bin Khaldun was born on the 27th of May 1332 in Tunis. His family claimed descent from a Yemenite tribe originating in Hadramawt.
Common questions about Ibn Khaldun
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What major events shaped the early life of Ibn Khaldun?
The Black Death swept through North Africa in 1348 and claimed the lives of both his parents when he was only sixteen years old. This tragedy thrust him into a volatile political landscape where survival depended on reading the intentions of rulers.
How did Ibn Khaldun write the Muqaddimah and when did he complete it?
Ibn Khaldun wrote the Muqaddimah in just six months while living in seclusion with a Berber tribe in the town of Qalat Ibn Salama starting in 1375. He returned to Tunis in 1378 to complete his history of the world.
What happened when Ibn Khaldun met the Mongol conqueror Timur in 1401?
Ibn Khaldun remained at the besieged city of Damascus for seven weeks in 1401 to negotiate with Timur. He wrote extensive reports on the history of the Tatars and a character study of Timur to send to the Merinid rulers in Fez.
Why is Ibn Khaldun considered a founder of modern sociology and economics?
Ibn Khaldun outlined early theories of division of labor, taxes, scarcity, and economic growth while arguing that social solidarity or asabiya drives human behavior. His work laid the foundation for modern sociology and economics centuries before these disciplines were formally established in the West.