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Ibn Khaldun

Abu Zayd 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Khaldun al-Hadrami (May 27, 1332/ah732 to March 19, 1406/ah808) was a famous Arab historiographer. He also wrote historical narratives based on the accounts of Timur, a Mongol leader.

Works:

Some Quotes from Works by Ibn Khaldun

" In the early stages of the state, taxes are light in their incidence, but fetch in a large revenue...As time passes and kings succeed each other, they lose their tribal habits in favor of more civilized ones. Their needs and exigencies grow...owing to the luxury in which they have been brought up. Hence they impose fresh taxes on their subjects...[and] sharply raise the rate of old taxes to increase their yield...But the effects on business of this rise in taxation make themselves felt. For business men are soon discouraged by the comparison of their profits with the burden of their taxes...Consequently production falls off, and with it the yield of taxation. "