What concept did Ibn Khaldun illustrate using the terms 'sedentary' and 'nomadic'?

Explanation

Ibn Khaldun, in his famous work Muqaddimah, presented his theory of the rise and fall of civilizations. He argued that nomadic (Bedouin) societies possess strong asabiyyah (social cohesion) and eventually conquer sedentary (urban) civilizations. However, once the conquerors settle into urban life, they gradually lose their asabiyyah and moral vigor, leading to their inevitable decline and loss of power after a few generations. This cycle of conquest, settlement, decay, and replacement represents the inevitable loss that all dynasties face.

Good to know

Ibn Khaldun (1332–1406 CE) is regarded as one of the founding fathers of sociology, historiography, and economics. His Muqaddimah (Introduction to History) presents a cyclical theory of history where the tension between nomadic and sedentary lifestyles drives historical change. He identified asabiyyah (group solidarity) as the key force that enables nomadic groups to overcome settled civilizations, but noted that this solidarity inevitably weakens within three to four generations of urban life.

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