(Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, France)
An illuminated page made by an unknown Persian artist. This page comes from a copy of the Jāmiʿ al-tawārīkh ('Compendium of Chronicles'), written by the Persian historian Rashid al-Din Hamadaniat (1247–1318) the start of the 14th century. The book is seen as "the first world history" and describes cultures and major events in world history from China to Europe until the 14th century. This page shows the siege of Baghdad (capital of the Abbasid Caliphate) in 1258 by the Mongol army of the Ilkhanate. A large Mongol army invaded the Middle East in 1257, seeking the submission of various Muslim states, including the Abbasid Caliphate. Caliph Al-Musta'sim Billah neglected to summon armies to reinforce the troops at his disposal in Baghdad nor did he strengthen the city's walls. The Mongol army began to lay siege of Baghdad on January 29 and after 10 days the city surrendered. After the siege, the Mogol army plundered Baghdad in a week of massacre and destruction. For several decades, the city was described as 'a depopulated, ruined city' and only gradually recovered some of its former glory. An illuminated page made in 1430.
