Ibn Khaldun was a 14th century Tunisian philosopher and historian who is considered a founder of sociology and social science. He emphasized the importance of empirical facts and developed theories of social change and tribal solidarity as drivers of change. He is best known for his Muqaddimah, considered a masterpiece in literature on philosophy of history and sociology, where he analyzed factors contributing to the rise and fall of civilizations. Ibn Khaldun introduced concepts like asabiya (social solidarity) and emphasized non-political factors like environment, economy, and psychology in analyzing historical events.