Complex sentence: In 1221 with the advent of Genghis Khan "a terrible disaster befell Bamiyan," nevertheless, the statues were spared.There was an attempt to destroy the Bamiyan statues by the 18th century Persian king Nader Afshar, directing cannon fire at them.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1221 with the advent of Genghis Khan "a terrible disaster befell Bamiyan," nevertheless, the statues were spared. Another attempt to destroy the Bamiyan statues was made by the 18th century Persian king Nader Afshar, directing cannon fire at them.