Afghanistan A presentation by Cassie Dychton, Maria Rademacher, and Anthony Braves

AFGHAN LIFE

History 3000 BCE-2000 BCE-Mundigak 522 BCE-486 BCE -Darius the Great expands Persian empire 400 AD - Invasion of the White Huns. 550 AD-Persians control over Afghanistan Invasion by Genghis Khan 1747-Nadir Shah is assassinated, and the Afghans rise once again Modern Afghanistan was created as a buffer state Russian vs. British empires(to Soviet Union and Great Britin) 1940-Zahir Shah proclaims Afghanistan as neutral during WW Bloody Communist coup Soviet Union (Russia) invades in December Now-Islamic State of Afghanistan Islamic republic

Afghanistan Climate = cold winters & hot summers Hindu Kush mountain range rises to more than 20,000 ft Central Afghanistan = plateau at 6,000 ft Southwestern Afghanistan = desert Less water pollution in mountains Few Lakes Geography

Economy Unemployment rate = 40% Exports: $327 million Imports: $4.85 billion Import Partners: Pakistan 36.8%, US 11%, India 5%, Germany 4.2% Natural Resources Natural Gas Petroleum Coal Copper Sulfur Lead Zinc

Religion Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%  Tension/ Violence 1% (Jews and Christian) would leave Afghanistan for Israel to escape Islamic rule Islamic State of Afghanistan (1992-Now) Afghanistan are the flag-covered graves of saint-like people Mullah 5 pillars of Islam are practiced all the time Foreign policy is heavily weighted on the west’s ability to understand and respect Afghanistan’s culture. Afghanistan must show understanding on its side of the table in order to avoid conflict.

Culture Major ethnic groups: Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, and Uzbek 9% Language: Afghan Persian/Dari (official) 50%, Pashto (official) 35%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11% Gender roles (women): 1960s  1992/1996 when Taliban captures Kabul Afghan diet Taliban had a ban on entertainment, but now social atmosphere more relaxed Women still wear chador/chadri  full body covering mandated by Taliban Men wear loose, baggy trousers with a long over shirt and vest over it Male literacy 21%, female literacy 51% in 2002 Education  free. Primary 6 yrs  secondary 6 yrs  Vocational program/training

Current Affairs Unemployment article: unemployment-driving-afghanistan-towards-instability.html unemployment-driving-afghanistan-towards-instability.html Current Event: “Iran says 20 killed in Mosque bombing” ( Current Event: “29 insurgents killed in eastern Afghanistan” ( O0) O0 Suicide Attacks Taliban going strong—centralized power War in Iraq looking better, war in Afghanistan not going America’s way… Kabul movie

Connections The War in Afghanistan  Taliban still recruiting children Kabul, Afghanistan  Kite Runner culture  Hazara and Pashtun Pakistan/Afghanistan border control “Children of the Taliban” video

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