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Baba's Birth
In 1933, Baba was born and Ali was adopted into Baba's family. Baba and Ali grew up together as childhood playmates, "But in none of his stories did Baba ever refer to Ali as his friend" (Hosseini 24). The curious thing was they were almost brothers. They were always spending time with each other and getting into trouble together. -
Monarchy in Kabul Ended
After a frightening night of gunshots, "Kabul awoke the next morning to find that the monarchy was a thing of the past" (Hosseini 36). What Kabul, Amir and Hassan had come to know as familarity and normality was soon to be gone. It was the beginning of the end. -
The Winter of 1975
Without a doubt, the year of 1975 was a major turning point in Amir's life, "I thought of the life I had lived until the winter of 1975 came along and changed everything. And made me what I am today" (Hosseini 2). The winter of 1975 influenced Amir to make certain decisions and actions that he could never go back and change. His good and bad experiences during that time shaped him into the person he is now. -
Amir Turns 13
The summer of 1976 Amir turned thirteen. His father threw him a huge party with four hundred or more guests, "Then I realized they weren't really coming for me. It was my birthday, but I knew who the real star of the show was" (Hosseini 94). Amir feels the party and the guests are not really coming for him, but instead for his father. This disappoints him, because he feels his father is not thinking about him or their relationship anymore, but just about himself and his reputation. -
The Official End
In 1973, the beginning of a new era started. An era where Afghan children would be immune to the sounds of bombs and gunfire. However, the end, "the official end, would come first in April 1978 with the communist coup d'etat" (Hosseini 36). The way of life that Afghanistans had come to know would forever be altered in these chains of events. -
Invasion of Afghanistan
People were unaware of the fact that in 1979, "Russian tanks would roll into the same streets where Hassan and I played, bringing the death of the Afghanistan I knew and marking the start of a still ongoing era of bloodletting" (Hosseini 36). Instead, they felt safe and at peace. No one really saw the war coming the bloodshedding that followed it. -
The Soviet Invasion
The start of the Soviet Invasion began when "the first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on December 27, 1979..." ("Afghanistan Overview"). -
Period: to
Modern Afghan History
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Babrak Karmal Took Over
When Amir runs into Assef again he is speechless. Assef, however, is not. Instead, Assef talks about his epiphany that inspired him to be even crueler, "I spent some time in jail, at Poleh-Charkhi, just after Babrak Karmal took over in 1980" (Hosseini 282). Assef's time in jail, happened during the time Parchami soldiers were terrorizing Afghans, and his experiences in jail inspired him to be even vicious. -
Amir and Baba Leave Afghanistan
In March 1981, Baba and Amir say goodbye to their life in Afghanistan, "I thought of the way we'd left the house where I'd lived my entire life, as if we were going out for a bite" (Hosseini 110). Baba and Amir left their entire life behind in Afghanistan without the slightest trace. They left casually as if they were only going a few miles away instead of a few thousand. -
Amir Graduates High School
In the summer of 1983, Amir makes an amazing milestone, "I graduated from high scool at the age of twenty, by far the oldest senior tossing his mortarboard on the football field that day" (Hosseini 131). Even though, Amir was the oldest senior, he still graduated high school proving that despite his hardships he could still live a somewhat normal life, and at the very least get a good education. -
Soviet Airforce in 1986
Following the year of 1986, "the Soviet Air Force was also rendered largely useless by advanced Stinger antiaircraft missiles supplied by the United States to the rebels" ("Afghanistan Overview"). -
Rahim Khan Tries to Find Hassan
Rahim Khan recounts the story of how he found Hassan to Amir, "There were a lot of reasons why I went to Hazarajat to find Hassan in 1986. The biggest one, Allah forgive me, was that I was lonely" (Hosseini 203). Loneliness motivated Rahim Khan to find Hassan, and it was rightfully so. Rahim Khan had to take care of Baba's big house all by himself. It was only logical he find someone to help him, Hassan was the most ideal and the best person for the job. -
Amir Finishes His First Book
In the summer of 1988 Amir finished his first novel, "a father-son story set in Kabul, written mostly with the typewriter the general had given me" (Hosseini 182). Amir had not written it with anything fancy, but used his resources to create a book based on some of his experiences and memories of Kabul. This shows he had a very humble start of his writing career. -
Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
As a result of the United Nation's urging for peace, "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989, in what was in effect a unilateral withdrawal" ("Afghanistan Overview"). -
Farzana is Pregnant
Upon Rahim Khan's request, Hassan and his wife, Farzana move in with him. Hassan tends to the house and its surrounding gardens, while Farzana cooked and cleaned. In early 1990, "Farzana became pregnant again" (Hosseini 209). This is great news for Farzana and Hassan, because they will have a child. Additionally, Rahim Khan is also excited as he loves them and wants them to be happy. -
Effect of Soviet Forces Departure on Afghanistan
After the departure of the Soviet forces in Afghanistan, "power was anarchically divided among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms" ("Afghanistan Overview"). -
Taliban Ban Kite Fighting
In 1996, the Taliban take control of Kabul, "A few weeks later, the Taliban banned kite fighting" (Hosseini 213). They take away Amir and Hassan's favorite pasttime as well as part of Sohrab's childhood. Furthermore, they take away an Afghan tradition further threatening the happiness of Afghans in Kabul and Afghanistan. -
Al Queda
Al Queda plays a big part by persuading, "Mullah Omar to order the destruction of the 800-year-old Buddha statues at Bamiyan, an act condemned around the world" ("Afghanistan Overview"). -
Talib Boasts About Hazara Massacre
As Amir tries to find Sohrab, Hassan's son before it is too late, he meets a Talib, who brags "But you want a real show, you should have been with me in Mazar, August 1998, that was" (Hosseini 276). The event the Talib was talking about was the Hazara massacre. He was boasting about killing people, saying it was liberating, even fun. -
Rahim Khan Asks Amir to Come Back
The summer of 2001, Rahim Khan called to tell Amir he was sick. He told Amir, "Come. There is a way to be good again" (Hosseini 192). Rahim Khan was aware of Amir's transgressions. Moreover, Rahim Khan wanted Amir to atone for his sons and forgive himself. Therefore, he asked Amir to come to Pakistan to visit him. -
Amir and Sohrab Come Home
Amir and Sohrab arrive home after their long journey and Soraya greets them at the airport. Amir reflects on Soraya and Sohrab's first encounter, "Looking at her smiling at Sohrab, her eyes tearing over a little, I had a glimpse of the mother she might have been, had her own womb not betrayed her" (Hosseini 358). Amir sees Soraya would have been a wonderful, loving mother, had she had the chance. He thinks Sohrab is that chance. -
9/11 and it's Effect on the United States
The United States became militarily involved after, "...the September 11 attacks by Al Quaeda" ("Afghanistan Overview"). -
Kite-running With Sohrab
Then March 2002, a miracle happened. Amir and Sohrab were at a picnic when Amir asked Sohrab, "'Do you want me to run that kite for you?' His Adam's apple rose and fell as he swallowed. The wind lifted his hair. I thought I saw him nod. 'For you, a thousand times over,' I heard myself say" (Hosseini 371). There was a glimmer of hope, and Amir seized it, while saying the words that meant so much to him. In reality, he is saying it to Sohrab, but also apologizing to Hassan. -
Hamid Karzai
The supporter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah "took office as interim president in June 2002" ("Afghanistan Overview"). -
Karzai's Term
After two years, "Mr. Karzai was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004" ("Afghanistan Overview"). -
President Obama's Speech
Mr. Obama gave a speech where he "announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" ("Afghanistan Overview"). -
Expected Withdrawal of American Troops
The Obama administration emphasizes the idea, "the United States will have forces in the country until at least the end of 2014" ("Afghanistan Overview").