[Cronos]

In truth the Mongol invasions of the Moslem world was more important than the crusades

Quite correct -- Hulagu decimated Baghdad -- it was THE center of Islam under the Abbassids or Ummayyads (not sure) Caliphs. After the Mongol invasion it never truly recovered. The Mongols conquered Iran and large chunks of Turkey, Syria etc. before being defeated by the Mameluks of Egypt (the first time they were ever defeated)

[PzLdr]

Baghdad was the Abbasid Caliphate. I believe the Ummayids were centered in Cairo, where they bought Kipchak slaves fro the Mongols. The slaves became the Mamelukes, who followed the Muslim practice of starting as military units, moving to being the power behind the throne (the Ummayid Caliph), to usurping the throne and the power.