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Amir is born
"at the age of twelve...in the winter of 1975" (1). This shows that Amir is twelve years old during the year 1975, which would make it so he was born in 1963. Another thing that this represents is that Amir was only a young child when he had to begin to endure tragic events in his life. -
Sofia Akrami dies
Amir reveals that his mother "died giving birth to [him]" (6). This shows that they might not have had the proper healthcare for women in Afghanistan around that time. It reveals that Afghsnistan was still a developing country. -
Hassan is born
Amir is thinking to himself that "Hassan was born in the winter of 1964" (6). This denotes that Amir felt somewhat close to Hassan because he remembers when he was born. Even though they were of different social classes, Amir and Baba still had a certain respect for Hassan. -
Baba builds orphanage
"In the late 1960s, when I was five or six years old, Baba decided to build an orphanage" (13). This shows that Baba is a giving person and he truly cares about the underpriviledged children in Afghanistan. Many people with money or wealth, such as Baba, do not build orphanages or donate to charity, but Baba showed that he was an exception. -
Baba flies to Tehran for World Cup
Amir says that "Baba took a break from the construction of the orphanage and flew to Tehran to watch the World Cup games...Afghanistan didn't have TVs yet" (20). This shows that Baba was human and has hobbies just like everyone else. It also depicts that he had a passion for soccer. -
Orphanage opens
Amir states that the orphanage opens in 1975 because it "opened 3 years later" (13). Amir shows that he remembers this event because it left a lasting impression on when the orphanage opens. A building such as an orphanage will often leave a good impression on someone who is born and raised by a good, loving father such as Baba. -
Amir gets cleft lip surgery
Amir recalls, "that day back in 1974, in the hospital room, just after Hassans harelip surgery" (219). This surgery was paid for by Baba even though Hassan was his servant and that was not considered proper. It showed that Baba cared for Hassan and foreshadowed later events. -
Amir becomes confused about education
Baba told Amir that Amir had "confused what [he was] learning in school with actual education" (16). This event represents that Baba is noble and is a good role model for Amir to look up to. Since Baba was noble, this made it easier for Amir to find a role model to look up to for advice when he was confused or worried. -
Amir wins kite running tournament
Amir states that in "1975... I had cut the last kite" (370). This shows that Amir was talented and was skillful at kite running. Hassan had helped him complete this task but Amir did not credit Hassan with winning because Hassan was of a lower social class and Amir felt guilty about Hassan getting raped. -
Amir asks Baba to get new servants
Amir asks Baba if he had "ever thought about getting new servants" (89). Baba quickly shot down the idea and got angry with Amir for asking. This shows that Baba had a stron emotional connection to Ali and Hassan which foreshadowed later events in the book. -
Assef rapes Hassan
Amir reveals to the reader that "Assef knelt behind Hassan, put his hands on Hassan's hips and lifted his bare buttocks" (75). This shows that Assef is a character who is extremely hungry for power. It also shows that Afghanistand had much worse living conditions than the U.S. at the time because nobody would be able to get away with rape on a minor in the United States. -
Soviet Union Invades Afghanistan
The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979. This has led to a lot of violence since then. -
Soviet Troops Arrive in Kabul
Soviet troops arrived in Kabul via parachute. They were there to provide aid to Babrak Karmal, the first president by coup. -
Amir and Soraya get married
Amir says that "It means...the world to [him]" (161). This shows that Amir and Soraya were a good pair and they were happy together. Since that happened, it foreshadowed that they would have a strong relationship. -
U.S. Provides Missiles to Rebels
The U.S. provided missiles to the rebels. These missiles were more advanced than those of the soviets, giving the rebels a leading edge. -
Mullah Omar gained many followers
Mullah Omar was a Pashtun who had grown to have over 12,000 followers. He promised to restore Islam in the daily life. -
Taliban Seiza Control of Afghanistan
The Islamic extremist group Taliban took control of Afghainstan after a civil war took place in the country. The takeover by Taliban worried many governments through the world. -
Bin Laden Arrives at Jalalabad Airport
Bin Laden, an Al Qaeda leader, arrived at an aiport on behalf of Al Qaeda. He was supposedly there to persuade Mullah Omar to destroy statues. -
September 11 Attacks
On September 11, Al Qaeda operative hijacked four American aircraft. Three crashed into American government facilities and one crashed into a rural forest. -
U.S. Becomes Militarily Involved in Afghanistan
The U.S. sent troops into Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks. The U.S. led the invasian because they believed the Taliban were harboring Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. -
Hamid Karzai Takes Office
Hamid Karzai, who was a supporter of the exiled former king of Afghanistan, took office. He served a five-year term. -
Karzai is Elected
Karzai is elected to a five-year term.