"The Muqaddimah" (by Ibn Khaldun)

"The Muqaddimah" by Ibn Khaldun is a pioneering work in social science and history, offering insights into how societies develop, change, and decline. It examines factors like economics, culture, politics, and psychology, emphasizing the importance of *asabiyyah* (social cohesion) in the rise of civilizations. Ibn Khaldun presents a cyclical view of history, where societies go through periods of growth, stability, and decline. His analysis highlights that understanding human behavior, social bonds, and economic patterns is key to explaining historical change, making it a foundational text for fields like sociology, economics, and history.