History of Afghanistan: The Country That Keeps On Surviving

Afghanistan – a country that has been historic battlegrounds, invaded by countless armies, and survived to tell the tale. Let’s take a comedic look at the history of Afghanistan.

Pre-Historic Times

No one knows what went on in Afghanistan before written history, but we assume that the first Afghanis probably spent their days herding goats and trying to figure out how to get rid of sand stuck in their sandals.

Ancient Times

In ancient times, Afghanistan was known as “Gandhara,” and it was a mix of different cultural groups (All fighting with each other, of course). Scholars and historians argue whether or not Gandhara played any significant impact on the Greco-Buddhist art forms.

Islamic Empire

In the 7th century, the Islamic empire began spreading into Afghanistan, and even though the Afghans battled them off now and then, the empire managed to annex them. Strangely enough, this was one of the few times in their history where Afghanistan remained peaceful, although dominated.

Mongol Invasion

In 1219, Genghis Khan rode into Afghanistan on horseback with his army, happily ripping through everything in its way. He devastated towns and villages alike, leaving behind a trail of destruction. And, to be honest, very little has changed since.

British Invasions

The British Empire fancy getting in on the action, so in 1839, they invaded Afghanistan. However, within a few years, the Afghans had driven out the British army. Never to stick around to learn from their mistake, the British invaded again in 1878. The Afghans didn’t like this and fought back with great fierceness, prompting the British to ultimately give up and retreat.

Soviet Invasion

In 1979 Afghanistan faced invasion from the Soviet forces. America backed the Afghanis, supporting them throughout the war; however, after ten years, the Soviets ultimately withdrew in defeat, seemingly defeated by the rugged country and very determined Afghanis.

Taliban Regime

In the ‘90s the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, ushering in an era of stringent Islamic law, which wasn’t great fun for anyone who didn’t like having their hands cut for thievery. After being ousted from power by US forces in 2001, they set up terrorist training camps all over the country. Hell hath no fury!

Present Day

Today, Afghanistan remains in the midst of power struggles, conflict and barbaric terrorist attacks. However, despite turmoil, this country has provided some of the world’s finest carpets, battles, and people (honest!). A rugged, tough-as-a-boot country that somehow manages to keep surviving despite everything that has been thrown at it.

Conclusion

Afghanistan - a country that has been ravaged and destroyed, invaded and occupied, but it just keeps on bouncing back like a jack-in-the-box. If history has shown us anything, it’s that invading Afghanistan is a bit like having a fight with a wasp nest - painful, lots of regrets, and ultimately, not much gain.