The Mongol Conquest of Baghdad (1258)

'tis but a scratch: fact and fiction about the Middle Ages

Last May, I spoke with Professor Nicholas Morton about the Mongols and their impact upon the medieval Near East. This episode digs deeper into that subject, focusing on the Mongol conquest and destruction of Baghdad in February of 1258. The Mongol sack of Baghdad is notorious for its brutality. Estimates of the number killed range from 90,000 to the 200,000 claimed by the leader of the Mongol army, Hulegu Khan. Much like Alaric's sack of Rome in 410, the Mongol conquest of Baghdad, the seat of the Abbasid caliphate, had a symbolic significance beyond its political and military importance. It signaled both the end of an independent Abbasid caliphate and announced the Mongol intent to dominate the entire Islamic Near East, a goal that was to be thwarted by the Mamluks of Egypt.
In this episode, I interview Peter Konieczny, the co-founder and editor of Medievalists.net, about his research into the Mongol conquest of Baghdad. Peter explains the role played by non-Mongols in instigating the invasion of Iran and Iraq for their own profit, why the Mongols targeted Baghdad, what that city was on the eve of the Mongol assault, and the real historical significance of the event. I hope you will join us.
I've turned a number of the podcast episodes into YouTube videos using PowerPoint to add relevant images. These can be found at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsLl5BdGBDlAlYULY1zeckOOdVPrSIN2X
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Intro and exit music are by Alexander Nakarada
If you have questions, feel free to contact me at [e-mail]