Which empire captured Baghdad in 1258?

• A. Mongols
• B. Seljuk Turks
• C. Mamluks
• D. Ulama

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is the impact of the Mongol expansion on the Abbasid Caliphate. In 1258, Hulagu Khan’s Mongol army captured Baghdad and began the brutal destruction and sack of the city, which effectively ended the Abbasid political authority. This moment is a turning point in Islamic history, signaling a shift of power away from the traditional Abbasid heartland toward the broader Mongol Empire, with the caliphate existing afterward only as a religious symbol rather than a ruling dynasty.

The other options don’t fit this specific historical moment. The Seljuk Turks had controlled Baghdad earlier, but not in 1258. The Mamluks ruled Egypt and Syria and did not capture Baghdad in that year. The Ulama are religious scholars and institutions, not an imperial power capable of capturing cities.