|
|
| |
| 50,000 BCE-20,000 BCE |
| |
|
 |
Archaeologists have identified evidence of Stone Age technology in Aq Kupruk, and Hazar Sum. Plant remains at the foothill of the Hindu Kush Mountains indicate, that North Afghanistan was one of the earliest places to domesticate plants and animals. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 3000 BCE-2000 BCE |
| |
|
|
Bronze might have been invented in ancient Afghanistan around this time. |
|
First true urban centers rise in two main sites in Afghanistan--Mundigak, and Deh Morasi Ghundai. |
|
Mundigak (near modern day Kandahar)--had an economic base of wheat, barley, sheep and goats. Also, evidence indicates that Mundigak could have been a provincial capital of the Indus valley civilization. |
|
Ancient Afghanistan--crossroads between Mesopotamia, and other Civilizations. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 2500 BC- 1000 BC |
| |
|
|
Expansion of the Aryan base. The original inhabitants of this region were pushed towards eastern India where new schools of thoughts and a new imperial culture would emerge in course of time. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 2000 BCE- 1500 BCE |
| |
|
|
Aryan tribes in Aryana (Ancient Afghanistan) |
|
The City of Kabul is thought to have been established during this time. |
|
Rig Veda may have been created in Afghanistan around this time. |
|
Evidence of early nomadic Iron Age in Aq Kapruk IV. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 600 BCE -- (There is some speculation about this date) |
| |
|
|
Zoroaster introduces a new religion in Bactria (Balkh)---(Zoroastrianism--Monotheistic religion) (about 522 BC)--Zoroaster dies during nomadic invasion near Balkh. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 522 BCE--486 BCE |
| |
|
|
Darius the Great expands the Achaemenid (Persian) empire to its peak, when it takes most of Afghanistan, including Aria (Herat), Bactriana (Balk, and present-day Mazar-i-Shariff), Margiana (Merv), Gandhara (Kabul, Jalalabad and Peshawar), Sattagydia (Ghazni to the Indus river), Arachosia (Kandahar, and Quetta), and Drangiana (Sistan). |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 303 BC |
| |
|
|
The defeat of Seleucus 1 by Chandragupta Maurya. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 250 BC |
| |
|
|
The reign of Ashoka |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 250 -128 BC |
| |
|
|
Greaco-Bactrian kingdom at Balkh. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 127 BC - 41 AD |
| |
|
|
Ptolemy's mention of Kabul as Kabura. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
|
| |
| 50 - 250 AD |
| |
|
|
Emergence of the Kushan power under Kanishka. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 225 – 600 AD |
| |
|
|
Sassanids occupy and establish their rule. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 400 AD |
| |
|
|
Invasion of the White Huns. They destroy the Buddhist culture, and leave most of the country in ruins. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 425—550 AD |
| |
|
|
Independent Yaftalee rule in Afghanistan. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 652-664 AD |
| |
|
|
Invasion of the Arabs and the first contact with Islam. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 8th - 10th century |
| |
|
|
The reign of Hindushahis who ruled Kabul and the eastern part of the Afghan territory. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 997-1150 AD |
| |
|
|
The rule of Ghaznavids. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 998-1030 AD |
| |
|
|
The reign of Mahmud Ghaznawi. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1370 AD |
| |
|
|
Tamerlane ( known as Timor-e Lang in Afghanistan). |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
|
| |
| 16th Century |
| |
|
|
Babur invades and rules from Kabul. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1747 AD |
| |
|
|
Ahmad Shah Abdali comes to power. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1775 AD |
| |
|
|
Timor Shah shifted the capital from Kandahar to Kabul. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1838 AD |
| |
|
|
Said Jamaluddin Afghan credited with the Pan-Islamic movements in the region. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1839-42 AD |
| |
|
|
First Anglo Afghan war. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1826-63 AD |
| |
|
|
Consolidation of power by Dost Muhammad Khan. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1868-1879 AD |
| |
|
|
Amir Shir Ali Khan. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1878-80 |
| |
|
|
Second Anglo Afghan war. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1880-1901 AD |
| |
|
|
Rule of Dost Muhammad's grandson, Abdur Rahman Khan. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
|
| |
| 1919-29 AD |
| |
|
|
Amir Amanullah Khan. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| August 1919 AD |
| |
|
|
Afghanistan Declares its independence from British following the 3rd and final Anglo-Afghan war. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1921 AD |
| |
|
|
End of British involvement in Afghan affairs. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| Third Anglo-Afghan war |
| |
|
|
Once again, the British are defeated, and Afghanistan gains full control of her foreign affairs. |
|
Amir Amanullah Khan initiates a series of ambitious efforts at social and political modernization |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1933 to 1973 AD |
| |
|
|
The long reign of Zahir Shah |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1973 to 1978 AD |
| |
|
|
President Mohammad Daud Khan seizes power in a nearly bloodless coup. Zahir Shah went into exile in Europe. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| April 1978 AD |
| |
|
|
Marxist coup. Mohammad Daud and his entire family was killed in the coup. The People's Democratic party of Afghanistan (PDPA) headed by Nur Mohammad Taraki comes to power |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1979 AD |
| |
|
|
End of Taraki. He was removed from power. Hafizullah Amin, his lieutenant takes over and kills Taraki. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| December 1979 |
| |
|
|
Soviet Russia marches into Afghanistan. Amin was executed and replaced by Babrak Karmal. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1986 |
| |
|
|
Soviet troops to withdraw from Afghanistan in phases. Babrak Karmal replaced by Najibullah Government |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| February15, 1989 |
| |
|
|
Soviet troops finally withdraw. However Najibullah continues while the battle with the Mujahideen goes on. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| April 15,1992 |
| |
|
|
The Mujahideen take Kabul and liberate Afghanistan, UN protected Najibullah. |
|
The Mujahideen form an Islamic State |
|
Professor Burhannudin Rabbani is appointed President. Hekmatyar’s forces fire missiles and rockets into Kabul. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1995 |
| |
|
|
The rise of the Taliban in southern Afghanistan |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| Sept. 24, 1996 |
| |
|
|
The Taliban capture Kabul, supported by foreign powers |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1997 |
| |
|
|
Taliban recognized as legitimate rulers by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Most other countries continue to officially recognize the Islamic State of Afghanistan under President Rabbani. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1998 |
| |
|
|
August--Taliban finally capture Mazar-i-Sharif, and massacre thousands of innocent civilians afterwards, mostly Hazaras |
|
August 20th--United States launches cruise missiles hitting Afghanistan's Khost region. US states its intent was to destroy so called terrorist bases/training facilities used by Osama bin Laden and his followers. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 1999 |
| |
|
|
September--The ex-king of Afghanistan, Mohammad Zahir, calls for a grand assembly, or Loya Jirga to discuss ways of bringing peace to the country. The United Front soon welcomes the idea |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
|
| |
| 2001 March |
| |
|
|
Taliban blow up giant Buddha Statues in defiance of international efforts to save them. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 2001 May |
| |
|
|
Taliban order religious minorities to wear tags identifying themselves as non-Muslims, and Hindu women to veil themselves. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 2001 September 9 |
| |
|
|
Ahmad Shah Masood, legendary guerrilla and leader of the main opposition to the Taliban, is killed, apparently by assassins belonging to Osama Bin Laden's terrorist network, posing as journalists. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 2001 October |
| |
|
|
USA launches air strikes against Afghanistan after Taliban refuse to hand over Osama bin Laden, held responsible for the September 11 attacks on America. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 2001 November |
| |
|
|
Opposition forces seize Mazar-e-Sharif and within days march into Kabul and other key cities. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 2001- 5 December |
| |
|
|
Afghan groups agree deal in Bonn for interim government. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 2001- 22 December |
| |
|
|
Hamid Karzai is sworn in as head of a 30-member interim government |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 2002 January |
| |
|
|
First contingent of international peacekeepers under the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) arrive in Kabul. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 2002 April |
| |
|
|
Former King Mohammad Zahir returns |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 2002 April 25 |
| |
|
|
The Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan declares Ahmad Shah Massoud, National Hero of Afghanistan. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 2002 May |
| |
|
|
UN Security Council extends mandate of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) until December 2002 |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 2002 June |
| |
|
|
Loya Jirga, or Grand National council, elects Hamid Karzai as interim head of state. He picks members of his administration which is to serve until 2004. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 2002 December |
| |
|
|
President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani, Turkmen leaders sign agreement paving the way for the construction of a gas pipeline through Afghanistan. |
|
Asian Development Bank resumes lending to Afghanistan after 23-year gap |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 2003 August |
| |
|
|
NATO takes command of ISAF in Kabul. It is the organization’s first operational commitment outside Europe in its history |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 2004 January |
| |
|
|
Constitutional Loya Jirga adopts Afghanistan's new Constitution. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
| |
| 2004 March |
| |
|
|
President Hamid Karzai announces Afghanistan's first post-Taliban elections to be held in September. |
|
Afghanistan secures $8.2bn (£4.5bn) in aid over the next three years in an International Conference in Berlin. |
| |
|
| [TOP] |
|
| |
