The Abbasid Caliphate based its capital in Baghdad. That city was the headquarter of its goverment. The Mongols sacked the city in 1258 under the command of Hulagu Khan, brother of the khagan Möngke Khan who had the intention of expanding his domains in Mesopotamia. He and his brother Möngke Khan were ready to attack Baghdad if the Abbasid did not agree with the conditions imposed by the Mongols on paying tributes to support the military Mongol forces in Persia.
Confucius wrote this. He was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and a philosper in the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese History. He was very influential and was known for his popular aphorisms ans for his social interactions.