Spiritual Values and Their Role in the Rise and Fall of Civilizations

Abstract

This study explores Ibn Khaldun's unique perspective on the rise and fall of civilizations, emphasizing the role of spiritual values and internal human structure. It argues that the decline of states is not primarily due to external invasions or revolutions, but to internal decay driven by moral erosion, luxury, selfishness, and the pursuit of power. Ibn Khaldun links civilization to "ʿumrān" (urban development), where man transitions from nomadic life to settled life, losing his tribal cohesion and spiritual grounding in exchange for authority and comfort. As corruption and excess spread, the civilization weakens and is eventually replaced by a younger, more dynamic one. Thus, external factors only reinforce an already ongoing internal decay, highlighting that, for Ibn Khaldun, the root of civilizational decline lies in the human soul and its detachment from higher values.