The purpose of this paper is to raise several questions common to the philosophy of history and to discuss the work of Ibn Khaldūn in relation to them. The paper is accordingly divided into four parts. In the first, the questions are identified; in the second, the relevant aspect of Ibn Khaldūn's writing is introduced; in the third, the questions are discussed with reference to Ibn Khaldūn, and in the fourth an attempt is made to show how the questions might be answered.