Hulegu Khan, a grandson of Genghis Khan and a key figure in the Mongol Empire, led a massive military campaign against the Ayyubid dynasty, culminating in the siege of Baghdad, a major cultural and political center of the Islamic world. After a prolonged confrontation, the Mongol forces breached the city's defenses and entered on February 12, 1258. Following the capture, Hulegu ordered his troops to commit widespread pillaging and destruction. The siege lasted for several days, during which the army systematically looted homes, libraries, and mosques. The iconic House of Wisdom, a center of learning, was also destroyed, symbolizing a great loss to knowledge in the region.

The aftermath of the sack left Baghdad in ruins, with estimates of the death toll ranging significantly, illustrating the scale of devastation endured by its populace. The Mongols displayed brutal efficiency, using a strategy that emphasized shock and awe to demoralize any potential resistance in other regions. Baghdad's fall signaled the end of the Islamic Golden Age and a shift in the balance of power, as the city had been a vibrant center for culture, trade, and religion.

Hulegu's campaign against Baghdad was not only a turning point in the region but also a pivotal moment in world history as it exemplified the Mongol Empire's westward expansion into Islamic territories. Consequently, the cultural and intellectual decline in Baghdad prompted a significant shift, as other regions, such as Egypt and Persia, became the new centers of power while the Mongolian influence spread across Asia and into Europe.