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USSR invasion of Afghanistan
Soviet forces attacked "on Dec. 27, 1927, to assist Babrak Karmal." -
Baba's birth
1933 was "the year Baba was born and the year Zahir Shah began his forty-year reign of Afghanistan." (24). Baba was born during the time of the Soviet invasion. He was also around when Ali was adopted into the family, and they soon became close friends. -
Amir's birth
Amir was born one year before Hassan, who was "born in the winter of 1964." (6). Because of this small age gap, Amir and Hassan became close friends. However, their relationship has always been tainted by the fact that Hassan is Amir's servant. -
Sanaubar Leaves
Sanaubar ran off a few days after Hassan's birth, depriving him of a mother "less than a week after he was born." His fate and Amir's are very similar. They both never got to know their mother. However, it must be worse for Hassan, knowing that his mother is alive and out there, only that he will probably never see her. -
Hassan Challenging Assef
When Assef and his cronies were threatening Amir and Hassan, Hassan "held the slingshot pointed directly at Assef's face." (42). This single event influenced the events that happened in the future of the book by far. For example, if this hadn't happened, Hassan wouldn't have been raped. Then, he and Ali wouldn't have left Kabul. From there, who knows? -
Hassan and Ali Leave
According to Ali, "life here is impossible for us now, Agha sahib. We're leaving." (106) Hassan falsely admitted to stealing the money, and though Baba forgive him, Ali insists that they leave. This destroys Baba, who has been with Ali for many years of his life. -
Afghanistan is stable and prosperous
Before the soviet invasion, "Afghanistan was a stable, relatively prosperous and relatively secular country." -
Amir and Baba arrive in America
Baba and Amir went to America, because "Baba loved the idea of America." I guess that Baba had thought America would be a nice place to live. It was a land for immigrants, including themselves. -
Amir Goes to College
After graduating high school (and going to a bar), Amir decides that "[he'll] major in English." (134) He plans on honing his already great story-telling skills, and using it to write books. His ability to write well started with that first story he wrote, and was probably heavily interested by Rahim Khan. -
Amir Gets Married to Soraya
Amir asks Baba to ask for Soraya's hand, and he is very excited when the general accepts the offer. Later Soraya confesses her secret, saying that "I don't want us to start with secrets." (164). Amir listens to her secret, and is jealous that it comes out so easy. It isn't like his secret, which he hides from sight. -
Baba Dies
Soon after the wedding, Baba dies peacefully in his bed. Amir remembers putting him to bed that night, and how Baba "never woke up." (173) Over the course of his life, Baba has had an immense impact on Amir. Without Baba there to guide him, Amir no longer has an advisor, and is truly alone. -
Baba Starts Going to the Flea Market
For Baba, the flear market became a place for making a bit of an extra profit, as well as sociallizing with other Afghans. The flea market idea was so popular that "by that summer, Afghan families were workign an entire section of the San Jose flea market." (137) It became a very social place. It was here that Baba met General Taheri, and where Amir first met Soraya. -
Soviet/Afghan Peace Talks
When the Soviets were tired of fighting, there were "peace talks moderated by the United Nations." -
Soviet Withdrawl
After being devastated in Afghanistan, "Soviet troops left." -
Destruction of the Orphanage
Due to callateral damage, the fighting factions 'destroyed your father's orphanage." There are very few people in the world who would intentionally destroy an orphanage. Because fo this, it was destroyed by accident, probably by a stray rocket. -
Taliban Takeover
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Arrival of Bin Laden
The Taliban welcomed Bin Laden to Afghanistan, "who arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad." -
Amir visits Rahim
Amir has to go to Pakistan, to visit Rahim, because " Rahim Khan is very sick." Rahim is dying, and it would be disrespectful for Amir not to visit his father's closest friend. He was also the first adult Amir counted as a friend. -
Sohrab Tries to Kill Himself
Amir was horrified when Sohrab tries to commit suicide, and it is said that "[he was] still screaming when the ambulance arrived." (342) Amir knew that Sohrab didn't want to go to another orphanage, but he didn't think that Sohrab would try something like that. -
Amir Re-Meets Assef
Assef tells Amir about why he joined the Taliban, including what he has done since. Some of those include the massacre of Hazaras, where "[they] left [the Hazaras] out for the dogs." (277) Assef had always been a bloodthirsty person, and joining the Taliban suited that. Later on, when he starts beating Amir, more of this blood-thirst is revealed. -
Sohrab Smiles Again
At the very end of the book, Amir sees that "one corner of his mouth had curled up just so." (370) This smile gives Amir hope that Sohrab will indeed recover, and not re-enter depression. This is the hope that Soraya has lost, but which Amir still clings to. -
9/11 Attacks
The US was infuriated after the "attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001." -
Post-9/11 Invasion of Afghanistan
The U.S. "drove the Taliban out of the major Afghan cities by the end of the year." -
Hamid Karzai is elected president
"Mr. Karzai was elected to a five-year term in 2004." -
Obama's speech at West Point
Obama gave a speech at West Point, where he "announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops."