The Muqaddimah: An Introduction to History - Abridged Edition (Princeton Classics (111))

The Muqaddimah, often translated as "Introduction" or "Prolegomenon," is the most important Islamic history of the premodern world. Written by the great fourteenth-century Arab scholar Ibn Khaldun (d. 1406), this monumental work established the foundations of several fields of knowledge, including the philosophy of history, sociology, ethnography, and economics. The first complete English translation, by the eminent Islamicist and interpreter of Arabic literature Franz Rosenthal, was published in three volumes in 1958 as part of the Bollingen Series and received immediate acclaim in the United States and abroad. A one-volume abridged version of Rosenthal's masterful translation first appeared in 1969. This Princeton Classics edition of the abridged version includes Rosenthal's original introduction as well as a contemporary introduction by Bruce B. Lawrence. This volume makes available a seminal work of Islam and medieval and ancient history to twenty-first century audiences. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION TO THE 2005 EDITION FROM THE TRANSLATOR’S INTRODUCTION TO THE 1958 UNABRIDGED EDITION* PREVIOUS TRANSLATIONS THE PRESENT TRANSLATION IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE COMPASSIONATE, THE MERCIFUL. PRAY, O GOD, FOR OUR MASTER MUHAMMAD, HIS FAMILY, AND THE MEN AROUND HIM FOREWORD THE INTRODUCTION Human civilization in general FIRST PREFATORY DISCUSSION SUPPLEMENTARY NOTE TO THE SECOND PREFATORY DISCUSSION (Geomancy) Bedouin civilization, savage nations and tribes and their conditions of life, including several basic and explanatory statements On dynasties, royal authority, the caliphate, government ranks, and all that goes with these things. The chapter contains basic and supplementary propositions The ṭirâz Countries and cities, and all other forms of sedentary civilization. The conditions occurring there. Primary and secondary considerations in this connection 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 The various kinds of sciences. The methods of instruction. The conditions that obtain in these connections PREFATORY DISCUSSION The Spanish muwashshaḥ and zajal The Muqaddimah, often translated as "Introduction" or "Prolegomenon," is the most important Islamic history of the premodern world. Written by the great fourteenth-century Arab scholar Ibn Khaldûn (d. 1406), this monumental work established the foundations of several fields of knowledge, including the philosophy of history, sociology, ethnography, and economics. The first complete English translation, by the eminent Islamicist and interpreter of Arabic literature Franz Rosenthal, was published in three volumes in 1958 as part of the Bollingen Series and received immediate acclaim in the United States and abroad. A one-volume abridged version of Rosenthal's masterful translation first appeared in 1969. This Princeton Classics edition of the abridged version includes Rosenthal's original introduction as well as a contemporary introduction by Bruce B. Lawrence. This volume makes available a seminal work of Islam and medieval and ancient history to twenty-first century audiences. (Publisher) Human civilization in general Bedouin civilization, savage nations and tribes and their conditions of life, including several basic and explanatory statements On dynastics, royal authority, the caliphate, government ranks, and all that goes with these things Countries and cities, and all other forms of sedentary civilization On the various aspects of making a living, such as profit and the crafts ; the conditions that occur in this connection The various kinds of sciences ; the methods of instruction. This prolegomenon was written in the 14th century by the Arab scholar Ibn Khaldūn, & laid the intellectual foundations for philosophy of history, sociology, ethnography & economics. This translation was first published in 1958 in three volumes.