Table of Contents

 

Introductory material

Introductory material of Book One, Kitab al 'Ibar

Preliminary Remarks

Chapter I

Human civilization in general

Chapter II

Bedouin civilization, savage nations and tribes and their conditions of life, including several basic and explanatory statements

Chapter III

On dynasties, royal authority, the caliphate, government ranks, and all that goes with these things. The chapter contains basic and supplementary propositions

1

Royal authority and large dynastic power are attained only through a group and group feeling

2

When a dynasty is firmly established, it can dispense with group feeling

3

Members of a royal family may be able to found a dynasty that can dispense with group feeling

4

Dynasties of wide power and large royal authority have their origin in religion based either on prophecy or on truthful propaganda

5

Religious propaganda gives a dynasty at its beginning another power in addition to that of the group feeling it possessed as the result of the number of its supporters

6

Religious propaganda cannot materialize without group feeling

7

Each dynasty has a certain amount of provinces and lands, and no more

8

The greatness of a dynasty, the extent of its territory, and the length of its duration depend upon the numerical strength of its supporters

9

A dynasty rarely establishes itself firmly in lands with many different tribes and groups

10

By its very nature, the royal authority claims all glory for itself and goes in for luxury and prefers tranquility and quiet

11

When the natural tendencies of the royal authority to claim all glory for itself and to obtain luxury and tranquility have been firmly es­tablished, the dynasty approaches senility

12

Dynasties have a natural life span like individuals

13

The transition of dynasties from desert life to sedentary culture

14

Luxury will at first give additional strength to a dynasty

15

The stages of dynasties. How the desert attitude differs among the people in the different stages

16

The monuments of a given dynasty are proportionate to its original power

17

The ruler seeks the help of clients and followers against the men of his own people and group feeling

18

The situation of clients and followers in dynasties

19

Seclusion of, and control over, the ruler (by others) may occur in dynasties

20

Those who gain power over the ruler do not share with him in the special title that goes with royal authority

21

The true character and different kinds of royal authority

22

Exaggerated harshness is harmful to royal authority and in most cases causes its destruction

23

The meaning of caliphate and imamate

24

The differences of Muslim opinion concerning the laws and conditions governing the caliphate

25

Shi'ah tenets concerning the question of the imamate

26

The transformation of the caliphate into royal authority

27

The meaning of the oath of allegiance

28

The succession

29

The functions of the religious institution of the caliphate

30

The title of "Commander of the Faithful," which is characteristic of the caliph

31

Remarks on the words "Pope" and "Patriarch" in the Christian religion and on the word " Kohen" used by the Jews

32

The ranks of royal and governmental authority and the titles that go with those ranks. The wazirate. The office of doorkeeper (hijabah). The ministry (diwan) of financial operations and taxation. The ministry (diwan) of official correspondence and writing. The police. The admiralty.

33

The different importance of the ranks of "the sword" and "the pen" in the various dynasties

34

The characteristic emblems of royal and government authority. The "outt" (alah). The throne (sarir). The mint. The seal. The tiraz. Large tents and tent walls. The prayer enclosure (maggurah) and the prayer during the Friday sermon.

35

Wars and the methods of waging war practiced by the various nations

36

Taxation and the reason for low and high tax revenues

37

In the later years of dynasties, customs duties are levied

38

Commercial activity on the part of the ruler is harmful to his subjects and ruinous to the tax revenue

39

The ruler and his entourage are wealthy only in the middle period of the dynasty

40

Curtailment of the allowances given by the ruler implies curtailment of the tax revenue

41

Injustice brings about the ruin of civilization

42

How it happens that access to the ruler becomes restricted in the dynasty. Such restriction becomes important when the dynasty grows senile

43

The division of one dynasty into two

44

Once senility has come upon a dynasty, it cannot be made to disappear

45

How disintegration befalls dynasties

46

The authority of the dynasty at first expands to its limit and then is narrowed down in successive stages, until the dynasty dissolves and disappears

47

How a new dynasty originates

48

A new dynasty gains domination over the ruling dynasty through perseverance, and not through sudden action

49

There is an abundant civilization (large population) at the end of dynasties, and pestilences and famines frequently occur then

50

Human civilization requires political leadership for its organization

51

The Fatimid. The opinions of the people about him. The truth about the matter. Sufi opinions about the Mahdi,

52

Forecasting the future of dynasties and nations, including a discussion of predictions (malabim) and an exposition of the subject called "divination" (jafr)

Chapter IV

Countries and cities, and all other forms of sedentary civilization. The conditions occurring there. Primary and secondary considerations in this connection

Chapter V

On the various aspects of making a living, such as profit and the crafts. The conditions that occur in this connection. A number of problems are connected with this subject

Chapter VI

The various kinds of sciences. The methods of instruction. The conditions that obtain in these connections. The chapter includes a prefatory discussion and appendices

Concluding Remarks

Selected Bibliography, Walter J. Fischel