Analysis of The Muqaddimah

Ibn Khaldun believes history is a science and should be written like one. History writers in his belief should write with no biases and not attempt to glorify anyone to garner favor. They should write analytically and use patterns to explain the historical events that occurred. History being a system of specific patterns and cycles is Ibn Khaldun’s main theory. This is shown in the Muqaddimah where he outlines his theory. In the book he determines that the rise and fall of political powers is a major factor in history and one that affects all other aspects of human life.  In chapter three he lays down a set of laws and a pattern that he says all dynasties follow in their cycle. The majority of those laws are based on human connections. The human connection which governs much of the rise and fall of political powers is group feeling. Group feeling is a bond that affects and governs all aspects of life and contributes to the success and fail of dynasties. This bond creates an affection amongst people that makes them willing to fight for each other. It also makes people seek superiority over other groups which leads to the founding of dynasties. In the history of the Middle East 610 to 1400 group feeling seems to be a major factor in most events especially relating to dynasties. Ibn Khaldun’s system of laws also mostly seems to reflect history but there are some laws that do contradict history. Ibn Khaldun’s system of laws relating to history may have some flaws but the overall theory that history and thus the rise and fall of dynasties is based on patterns is correct and can be seen throughout history not just in the Middle East.