Describe what the lesson refers to as "the Mongol Catastrophe". Why does it seem like Islam won the battle even though
they were conquered?

"The Mongol Catastrophe" is the term used to describe the intense and powerful Mongol invasions of the Islamic regions. Although the Mongols overcame these invasions, this term gives the impression that the Mongol Empire was the one who suffered the catastrophe, giving the impression that Islam won the battles, when in fact the Islamic regions were destroyed and never recovered again.

Explanation:

Led by Genghiz Khan, the Mongols dominated much of northern China. After that, he took his troops to the east of the country in order to conquer the Islamic regions. His plan was a success.

In addition to conquering the Islamic cities, the Mongols established a real massacre in those who tried to invade the invasion. In these invasions a large number of Muslims were killed, their temples destroyed and all their artistic, agricultural and social production was decimated by the Mongols.

After the leadership of Genghis Khan, his grandson, Hulagu, endowed with great ambition to follow in his grandfather's footsteps, led a large army to Iran, the center of Islam. There, he unleashed yet another major invasion by establishing a real massacre for the entire Islamic population of the place.