by Khaled Hosseini A Thousand Splendid Suns

Introduction: Afghanistan lies across ancient trade and invasion routes from central Asia into India. This geographic position has been the greatest influence on its history and culture. Invaders often came there and stayed.

Trade Route: The ‘Silk Road’ approximately 200BC to 1450AD

Present Population For the most part, Afghans are farmers, although a significant minority follows a nomadic lifestyle. In the years since the Soviet invasion and the later civil war, a large number of Afghans have fled the country and become refugees in neighboring nations, most typically in Iran and Pakistan.

The ‘Afghans’ The population of Afghanistan is comprised of a variety of ethnic groups called ‘Afghans.’ The largest of these groups are: - Pashtun - Tajiks - Hazara

Borders? What Borders? The people of Afghanistan are related to many of the ethnic groups in Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan; the borders drawn between these groups are arbitrary.

Landscape

Introduction to Afghanistan An ethnically diverse country. As of July 2014, there are approx. 32 million people estimated to live in Afghanistan. Pashtu and Dari are considered the official languages of Afghanistan and are spoken by 85% of the people. 30 other minor languages are also spoken in Afghanistan.

About 99% of the population is Muslim, and of these Muslims, 84% belong to the Sunni sect. There has been a long history of an ethnic hierarchy within Afghanistan. It has created imbalances in wealth, influence and education within its society. Traditionally Pashtuns have dominated the country because they are the presumed majority of the population. As a result, many of the other ethnic groups have not had a strong voice within the society. Introduction to Afghanistan

Introductory Activity Write the word in the space provided. Then write everything that comes to mind that you associate with this word.

Taliban

Patriarchy

Domestic Abuse

Desperation

Perseverance

Resistance to Victimization