A Thousand Splendid Suns

birth of Mariam

Jan 1, 1959

Spring of 1959, Mariam was born. Her mother Nana and Jalil had an affair. Nana was casted out when she was pregnant with Mariam.

Summer 1973

Jul 17, 1973

King Mohammed Zahir Shah, who ruled Kabul is overthrown by a bloodless coup. Mariam dreamed of living with Jalil.

Mariam turned 15

Mar 1, 1974

For Mariam's fifteenth birthday, she wanted to go to Jalil's cinema and meet her half siblings. When Jalil didn't show up to bring her to the cinema, she walked to Herat. When she came home, she found Nana hung on a tree. Jalil finally took her but married her to Rasheed a few days later.

Akbar Khyber

Apr 17, 1978

Akbar Khyber, who was a communist of parcham party, was found murdered. This lead to a demonstration two days later. Mariam had the first of her seven miscarriage.

Attack on the Presidential Palace

Apr 27, 1978

Colonel Abdul Oadar seizes airport in Kabul and leads to a lot of military planes flying over the city. Rebels attack the Presidential Palace and Daoud's loyalist forces are defeated. Leila was born that night.

America helps Afghanistan 1979-1980

Nov 6, 1979

America sends weapons and aid to Afghanistan in support to defeat the Soviet Union.

Kabul in chaos

Nov 6, 1980

Abdul Rahid Dostum fights with the Soviet against the Mujahideen. Ustad Atta Mohammed Noor and Ahmad Shah Massoud leave to join the jihad against the Soviets. Later Dostum joined the Najibullah when Soviets leave.

Mohammed Najibullah 1986-1996

Nov 6, 1986

Mohammed Najibullah becomes the first president of Afghanistan.

Laila turned nine

Nov 9, 1987

Laila is now nine. Her best friend Tariq is going away for a week but it turned out he was gonna for more than a week. While he was gone, Laila's family found out that Laila's brothers were killed in the war.

The Treaty of Geneva

Apr 6, 1988

The Treaty of Geneva is signed and the war between the Soviets and Afghans is over. Soviets leave shortly after.

Soviets leave Afghanistan

Jan 6, 1989

Last of Soviets army leaves the city Kabul. Laila turned eleven and watched the victory day marching with Tariq.

Islamic State of Afghanistan

Apr 1, 1992

The collapse of the Soviet Union caused Najibullah to surender. Afghanistan is now called the Islamic State of Afghanistan.

Mujahideen takes over

Apr 6, 1992

Mammy finally got out of bed and threw a party. However, they are now in control and enforce strict Islamic laws. Women were forcced to cover up, had to have a male relative with them if they wanted to travel, and if a woman was found guilty of adultery she would be stoned to death.

America arms warlords

Jun 6, 1992

Warlords are fighting on all sides and the CIA armed Commander Massoud's Tajik troops.

Tariq left

Aug 9, 1992

Tariq told Laila that his family is leaving the country and asked her to come with them. Laila refused, but her family decided to leave soon after Tariq left. However, a bomb hit Laila's house before they left, Mammy and Babi were killed. Rasheed and Mariam took Laila. Laila soon found out that she was pregnan with Tariq's child, so she married Rasheed.

birth of Azzia

Mar 9, 1993

Laila gave birth to Azzia, who was supposed to be a boy.

Abdul Rahid Dostum switches sides

Jan 6, 1994

Abdul Rahid Dostum switches sides and joins Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and they fired on the Presidential Palace. This lead to very violent killings of innocent civilians.

Laila tried to escape

Mar 9, 1994

Laila stole enough money from Rasheed to get to Parkistan. She took Azzia and asked Mariam to come with her. They were taken home by a officer. Rasheed starved them for a long time.

Start of the Taliban

Oct 6, 1994

The Taliban were a guerilla force. They captured Ali Mazari and killed him while taking over cities on their way to Kabul.

Taliban reach Kabul

Sep 27, 1996

The Taliban captured Jalalabad and Sarobi where they eventually reach Kabul. Laila soon found out that she was pregnant with Rasheed's child.

Taliban enforce laws

Nov 6, 1996

The Taliban enforce the law of Sharia. These laws were more targeted towards women and had very harsh punishments.

birth of Zalmai

Sep 9, 1997

Women were asked to go to different hospitals then men. Laila had to give birth to her son, Zalmai, without drug.

Rasheed's store was burned down

Jun 9, 2000

Rasheed lost his shop, and started going from job to job. The family soon started starving. Mariam tried to call Jalil for help and found out that he died.

Ahmad Shah Massoud goes to France

Apr 8, 2001

Massoud goed to France to warn the European Parliment of the terrorist camps in Afghanistan that is run by the Taliban. He pleads to the U.S. asking for their help to fight the Taliban.

Azzia went to an orphange

Apr 9, 2001

Azzia was sent to an orphange because Rasheed can't support the family. Laila would walk to see her and get beat. One day when she came home, Tariq was waiting for her. Rasheed found out and tried to kill her, Mariam had to kill Rasheed. She was sentenced to death for it.

9/11

Sep 9, 2001

Afghanistan terriost group ran by Osama bin Laden attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. President Bush declares war on Afghanistan. Laila and Tariq watched it on tv since they were now in Pakistan.

Mullah Omar surrenders

Dec 8, 2001

The Taliban government collapse

Laila is back to Kabul

Jul 9, 2002

Laila missed Kabul. Her, Tariq, Azzia and Zalmai went back. Before, Laila visited Mariam's tutor. She then started teaching in Kabul.