Baghdad became the capital of Iraq in 762 A.D. It was a resplendent city that served as the cultural center of Arab life. Baghdad’s takeover by the Mongol leader Hülegü, in 1258, saw its global prominence wane. Yet a rich cultural fabric remained. With the country’s discovery of oil in the 1920s, Baghdad returned to prosperity. This exhibition explores Baghdad’s heritage through objects on loan from 22 world-renowned museums. Photographs, artifacts, and video footage will construct a new narrative about one of Islam’s most important cities. —Elena Clavarino