Senior English The Kite Runner Important Terms to Know/Historical Timeline
Part One: Identify the following terms with a short definition or description
1. Kabul
2. Pashtun
3. Hazara
4. Sharia law
5. Shi’a
6. Sunni Muslims
7. Mujahadeen
8. Taliban
9. King Zahir Shah
10. Mullah
11. coup d’etat
12. Khan
13. Shah
14. Mahshallah
15. Inshallah
16. Agha
17. Sahib (pg. 44 – Ali and Hassan refer to Baba and Amir this way; Baba is “Agha Sahib” and Amir is “Amir Agha”
18. Osama bin laden
19. Douad Khan
20. jihad
Part Two: Historical Timeline of Afghanistan – Read the following timeline and highlight sections that you recall as referenced in the novel. Be prepared to explain and cite text.
1921 Afghanistan becomes an independent nation, defeating Britain in the Third British-Afghan War (1919-1921).
1926 Amir Amanullah Khan declares Afghanistan a monarchy and
proclaims himself king.
1928 Critics of Amanullah’s policies take up arms against him; he
abdicates the throne and leaves the country.
1933 Zahir Shah becomes king and rules for 40 years.
1934 United States formally recognizes Afghanistan.
1953 Pro-Soviet Gen. Mohammed Daoud Khan, cousin of the king,
becomes prime minister and looks to Soviet Union for economic and military assistance.
1956 Afghanistan and Soviet Union become close allies.
1957 Women are allowed to attend university and enter work force, under Daoud Khan.
1965 The Afghan Communist Party secretly forms.
1973 Daoud Khan overthrows Mohammed Zahir Shah in a military coup, abolishes the monarchy, and names himself president. The Republic of Afghanistan is established with firm ties to USSR.
1978 Daoud Khan is killed in a communist coup. Afghan Communist
Party leaders take control of the country, proclaim independence from Soviet influence, and declare their policies to be based on Islamic principles.
June 1978 The guerrilla movement Mujahadeen is created to battle the Soviet-
backed government.
Dec. 24, 1979 USSR invades Afghanistan to bolster the faltering communist
regime.
1980 Mujahadeen rebels have united against Soviet invaders and the USSR-backed Afghan army.
1982 2.8 million Afghans have fled to Pakistan; 1.5 million have fled to
Iran. Afghan guerillas gain control of rural areas, and Soviet troops hold urban areas.
1984 Osama bin Laden (Saudi Islamist) makes first documented visit to
Afghanistan to aid anti-Soviet fighters.
1986 The Mujahadeen are receiving arms from U.S., Britain, and China via Pakistan.
1988 bin Laden and 15 other Islamists form al-Qaida to continue their
jihad against the Soviets and others who oppose a pure nation governed by Islam.
1989 Afghanistan is guaranteed independence and 100,000 Soviet troops withdraw. The Mujahadeen continue resistance against communist president Dr. Mohammad Najibullah (president of puppet Soviet state in 1986). Afghan guerillas name Sibhatullah Mojadidi as head of their exiled government.
1992 The Mujahadeen and other rebel groups storm Kabul and oust Najibullah from power. The United Nations offers protection to Najibullah. The Mujahadeen, already beginning to fracture, form a largely Islamic state.
1995 The Taliban, a newly formed Islamic militia, rises to power. United States refuses to recognize the authority of the Taliban. Most Afghans approve of the Taliban upholding traditional Islamic values. The Taliban outlaw cultivation of poppies, crack down on crime, and curtail education and employment of women. Women are required to be fully veiled and are not allowed outside alone. Islamic law is enforced via public executions and amputations.
1995-1999 More than 1 million Afghans flee to Pakistan in refugee camps due to continuing drought conditions making rural areas uninhabitable.
1997 The Taliban publicly executes Najibullah.
2000 Osama bin Laden is widely believed to be hiding in Afghanistan cultivating thousands of followers in terrorist training camps. U.S. demands bin Laden’s extradition to stand trial for U.S. embassy bombings in Africa in 1998, but Taliban refuse. The United Nations punishes Afghanistan with trade and economic sanctions.
A Long Way Gone
The Kite Runner:
Senior English
The Kite Runner Important Terms to Know/Historical Timeline
Part One: Identify the following terms with a short definition or description
1. Kabul
2. Pashtun
3. Hazara
4. Sharia law
5. Shi’a
6. Sunni Muslims
7. Mujahadeen
8. Taliban
9. King Zahir Shah
10. Mullah
11. coup d’etat
12. Khan
13. Shah
14. Mahshallah
15. Inshallah
16. Agha
17. Sahib (pg. 44 – Ali and Hassan refer to Baba and Amir this way; Baba is “Agha Sahib” and Amir is “Amir Agha”
18. Osama bin laden
19. Douad Khan
20. jihad
Part Two: Historical Timeline of Afghanistan – Read the following timeline and highlight sections that you recall as referenced in the novel. Be prepared to explain and cite text.
1921 Afghanistan becomes an independent nation, defeating Britain in the Third British-Afghan War (1919-1921).
1926 Amir Amanullah Khan declares Afghanistan a monarchy and
proclaims himself king.
1928 Critics of Amanullah’s policies take up arms against him; he
abdicates the throne and leaves the country.
1933 Zahir Shah becomes king and rules for 40 years.
1934 United States formally recognizes Afghanistan.
1953 Pro-Soviet Gen. Mohammed Daoud Khan, cousin of the king,
becomes prime minister and looks to Soviet Union for economic and military assistance.
1956 Afghanistan and Soviet Union become close allies.
1957 Women are allowed to attend university and enter work force, under Daoud Khan.
1965 The Afghan Communist Party secretly forms.
1973 Daoud Khan overthrows Mohammed Zahir Shah in a military coup, abolishes the monarchy, and names himself president. The Republic of Afghanistan is established with firm ties to USSR.
1978 Daoud Khan is killed in a communist coup. Afghan Communist
Party leaders take control of the country, proclaim independence from Soviet influence, and declare their policies to be based on Islamic principles.
June 1978 The guerrilla movement Mujahadeen is created to battle the Soviet-
backed government.
Dec. 24, 1979 USSR invades Afghanistan to bolster the faltering communist
regime.
1980 Mujahadeen rebels have united against Soviet invaders and the USSR-backed Afghan army.
1982 2.8 million Afghans have fled to Pakistan; 1.5 million have fled to
Iran. Afghan guerillas gain control of rural areas, and Soviet troops hold urban areas.
1984 Osama bin Laden (Saudi Islamist) makes first documented visit to
Afghanistan to aid anti-Soviet fighters.
1986 The Mujahadeen are receiving arms from U.S., Britain, and China via Pakistan.
1988 bin Laden and 15 other Islamists form al-Qaida to continue their
jihad against the Soviets and others who oppose a pure nation governed by Islam.
1989 Afghanistan is guaranteed independence and 100,000 Soviet troops withdraw. The Mujahadeen continue resistance against communist president Dr. Mohammad Najibullah (president of puppet Soviet state in 1986). Afghan guerillas name Sibhatullah Mojadidi as head of their exiled government.
1992 The Mujahadeen and other rebel groups storm Kabul and oust Najibullah from power. The United Nations offers protection to Najibullah. The Mujahadeen, already beginning to fracture, form a largely Islamic state.
1995 The Taliban, a newly formed Islamic militia, rises to power. United States refuses to recognize the authority of the Taliban. Most Afghans approve of the Taliban upholding traditional Islamic values. The Taliban outlaw cultivation of poppies, crack down on crime, and curtail education and employment of women. Women are required to be fully veiled and are not allowed outside alone. Islamic law is enforced via public executions and amputations.
1995-1999 More than 1 million Afghans flee to Pakistan in refugee camps due to continuing drought conditions making rural areas uninhabitable.
1997 The Taliban publicly executes Najibullah.
2000 Osama bin Laden is widely believed to be hiding in Afghanistan cultivating thousands of followers in terrorist training camps. U.S. demands bin Laden’s extradition to stand trial for U.S. embassy bombings in Africa in 1998, but Taliban refuse. The United Nations punishes Afghanistan with trade and economic sanctions.
“Afghanistan and the War on Terror.” The Online NewsHour. Public Broadcasting Service. 3 October 2006. 17 August 2009.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/indepth_coverage/asia/afghanistan/timeline/timeline7.html