The Muqaddimah: An Introduction to History

Examine Ibn Khaldun’s view of religion. How does Ibn Khaldun conceive of religion’s role in knowledge acquisition and in the forces of history and society?

Analyze the role of gender in The Muqaddimah. What characteristics does Ibn Khaldun associate with masculinity and/or femininity? How does he see those characteristics fitting into the broader social or moral picture?

How does Ibn Khaldun view the social hierarchy? What role does social class play in shaping society or individual people in his analysis?

How does Ibn Khaldun compare and contrast Bedouin and sedentary civilization? What are the political, social, and/or moral significances of these differences?

Ibn Khaldun devotes several sections of his work to dream visions, fortune telling, and predicting the future. What is his view of these various practices? What role, if any, do they play in his work and in his understanding of history?

How does Ibn Khaldun view geography, climate, and their effects on civilization? How do his views shape his historiographical methodology? What are the strengths and weaknesses of his analysis?

Analyze Ibn Khaldun’s theory of eloquence and poetry. How does Ibn Khaldun define good literary style? What literary techniques does he employ in his own work? Why?

How does Ibn Khaldun view and analyze economics? What role do wealth, trade, and/or resources have in his view of the causes of historical change?