afghanistan a brief history. history has been invaded many times: –persians from (modern day) iran...
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AfghanistanA Brief History
History• Has been invaded many
times:– Persians from (modern
day) Iran– 327 BC 150BC:
Alexander the Great– Kushans 0 AD 700
AD– ~ 700 AD: Muslims
(Sunni) take over– 1220: Genghis Khan– 1505: Mogul Dynasty– 1738: Persians – 1838-1842: The British
try to take over– 1878-1880: They try
again– 1979 - 1989: Russia
invades
Effect of Invasions• Diverse population of
29 million people– Dozens of ethnic
groups – Hundreds of tribes
• Many Afghans identify with their tribe first
• Then their ethnic group
– Few major cities• Most scattered though
out small villages/ hamlets
• Very difficult to bring together under one government
Recent History of Fundamentalist Islam in Afghanistan
• 1979 The Soviet Union Invades– 10 years of fighting
• A worldwide call goes out to declare Jihad (struggle)– Muslims across the world
rush to remove the invaders of a Muslim nation
– They form the Mujahideen
Mujahideen
• An army of Muslim fighters of Jihad defending Islam
• Made up of Muslims from around the world (including Osama Bin Laden)
• Assisted by the United State’s CIA to remove the Soviet Union ($, weapons, training)
1989: The Soviets Retreat
• The United States then removes aid• Leaves a gap for who is going to run the
country• The Mujahideen break up into groups
fighting for control• The Civil War rips apart the country even
more than the Soviet Invasion• 1996: The Taliban take control of
Afghanistan
The Taliban• Fundamentalist Islamic
group who believes that the religion of Islam should be the government
• Began during the Civil War as a group to fight road thieves.
• Brutal fighters• They bring order to
Afghanistan through strict religious rules– Most Afghans welcome
the end of the wars at first.
Taliban Law• Shiria (Islamic) Laws…No:
– Education or sports for women
– TV– Movies– Videos– Music– Dancing– Clapping during sports
events– Kite flying– Beard trimming