Ibn Khaldun (b. Tunis 1332, d. Cairo 1406) Wali al-Din ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad Famous Muslim historian, sociologist and philosopher Born in Tunis, standard religious education Parents died of plague when he was 17

Ibn Khaldun (b. Tunis 1332, d. Cairo 1406) Went to court at Fez and took up administrative position, but soon left it to travel. Had various adventures and worked in various courts in Spain and N. Africa Eventually went to Cairo to escape plot, arrived 1382 Became popular teacher, held various teaching and legal positions, incl. occasional work for Mamluk sultans. Met Timur Lang

Ibn Khaldun (b. Tunis 1332, d. Cairo 1406) Ambitious, adventurous, ruthless and not averse to convenient changes of loyalty Ultimate aim seems to have been revivification of collapsing Muslim civilisation Best known for two works: 1. Al-Muqaddima - introduction to historian’s craft as scientific pursuit 2. Kitab al-‘Ibar - universal history

Ibn Fadl Allah al-‘Umari ( ) Shihab al-Din Ahmad ibn Fadl Allah al-‘Umari Born in Damascus into family of bureaucrats Began career in chancery in Cairo, but dismissed after quarrel with sultan, and imprisoned after further quarrel Soon released and became head of chancery in Damascus, but dismissed after 3 years

Ibn Fadl Allah al-‘Umari ( ) Died of fever in 1349 Various works. Best known for al-Ta‘rif bi’l-Mustalah al-Sharif - manual on administration explaining organisation of Mamluk empire and manners of correspondence with various offices and foreign powers

Anonymous Ottoman Chronicle Author unknown Goes up to late 15th c.

Nizam al-Din Shami/Nizam-i Shami (d. before 1412) Persian chronicler, possibly from Tabriz Says was one of first to submit to Timur when Timur arrived at Baghdad in 1393 Later accused of spying for Timur, imprisoned at Aleppo, so there when Timur took city in Joined Timur’s retinue

Nizam al-Din Shami/Nizam-i Shami (d. before 1412) In was commanded by Timur to write history of his conquests Zafar-Nama, completed 1404