Ibn Khaldun in Egypt

Ibn Khaldun in Egypt: His Public Functions and His Historical Research (1382–1406) offers a deep exploration of the transformative years the renowned scholar spent in Cairo, highlighting his dual roles as a public figure and a pioneering historian. While widely celebrated for his Muqaddimah, Ibn Khaldun's contributions during his 23 years in Egypt demonstrate the breadth of his intellectual pursuits and the complexity of his character. The book delves into his multifaceted public career, including his service to the Mamluk rulers as a diplomat, educator, and Chief Qadi of the Maliki school. It also recounts his dramatic meeting with the conqueror Tamerlane and examines his struggles to balance his political engagements with his passion for scholarship. Despite these challenges, Ibn Khaldun emerged as a pivotal figure in Mamluk society, navigating the tension between wielding influence and retreating into the seclusion of academic life.

In addition to chronicling his public functions, the book highlights the significant scholarly achievements of Ibn Khaldun during his time in Egypt. It reveals how his residence in Cairo and access to Eastern sources enabled him to revise and expand his earlier works, including the Muqaddimah, and to engage with new fields of historical research. His studies ranged from the political intricacies of Mamluk Egypt to the histories of Mongol conquests and pre-Islamic civilizations. This period also saw him produce a biography of Sultan Barquq, examine the spiritual and intellectual legacies of Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism, and compose his revealing Autobiography (Ta'rif). By illuminating this often-overlooked phase of Ibn Khaldun’s life, the book provides a richer understanding of his unparalleled contributions to Islamic and global historiography.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1967.