The historian Ibn al-Athir lived during the last quarter of the twelfth and the first half of thirteenth century - turbulent period of Asia. The historian, receiving elementry education first at home and later in the neighbouring schools turned a wondering scholar of the then known disciplines at various centres of learning in Mosul, Baghdad, Damascus, Allepo and Basra. His gigantic work Tarikh al-Kamil is perhaps the product of sober days of his last ten years. An Incomplete History of Mosul are the lasting contribution to the Arab treasure of knowledge.