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Mariam Born
Mariam, the main character of Part 1, was told by her father in chapter 1 that she was born in Herat in 1959. -
Bloodless Coup
"(Jalil) was the one who told her in the summer of 1973, when Mariam was 14, that King Zahir Shah, who had ruled from Kabul for forty years, had been overthrown in a bloodless coup" by his cousin, Dauod Khan. -
Mariam turns 15
In Chapter 5, Mariam turns 15 in the Spring of 1974 (specific date not stated). When her father doesn't show to take her to the cinema, she walks to his house and stays outside until his driver takes her home. There, she finds her mother hanged, and a week later she is married to Rasheed. -
Mariam finds out she's pregnant for first time
Page 79/87 -
Mir Akbar Kyber assassinated.
Kyber was a socialist (They allied with the communists, including Russia/the Soviet Union). He was a newspaper editor who criticized Dauod's government, and he was killed, most likely by the government. This led to the overthrow of the government by the socialists and the founding of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistant, which was allied with the Soviets. -
Mariam was age 19
Mariam is age 19 -
Soviet Army sends "advisors" to Afghanistan
In December 1978 the PDPA leadership signed an agreement with the Soviet Union which would allow military support for the PDPA in Afghanistan if needed. The majority of people in the cities including Kabul either welcomed or were ambivalent to these policies. However, the Marxist–Leninist and secular nature of the government made it unpopular with a majority of the Afghan population. Repressions plunged large parts of the country, especially the rural areas, into open revolt. -
Soviet Army invades in full force
As the situation worsens in Afghanistan, the Soviet Union finally decides to launch a full scale invasion. 100,000 Soviet troops enter Afghanistan. -
Laila's brothers go off to war
Laila's brothers go off to war sometime during this year. -
Tariq loses leg
Sometime during this year. -
Laila was 9
Laila found it hard to pay attention between her interest in Tariq and her parents fighting. -
Babi announces that the Soviets are leaving
Babi announces that the Soviets are leaving. page 153 -
Laila turns 11
Laila turns 11; in this month the last Soviet armies leave Kabul. -
Soviet Army leaves Afghanistan
In April of 1988, the Soviets sign a treaty, and on February 15, 1989, the last Soviet soldiers leave Afghanistan. A communist-led government, though, continues to exist in Afghanistan. -
Laila marries Rasheed?
Laila marries Rasheed? -
Mujahideen Armies defeat the communist backed government
The celebrations, though, are short-lived. Almost immediately, the various factions in the country begin fighting with one another, and the country falls into a Civil War. -
Laila turns 14
Soviet aligned government resigns. -
Giti is killed
Killed by a roadside bomb. Mother picks up pieces of her. Shoe with foot found on roof a few weeks later. -
Tariq announces he's leaving
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Taliban take over Kabul, much of Afghanistan
Start of chapter 37. The Taliban (an ultra religious group that began in the Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan) institute an extremely conservative version of Islamic rule. The Mujahideen continue to occupy PARTS of Afghanistan, but the Taliban control larger and larger portions. Also during this time, Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda group--which had been kicked out of both Saudi Arabia AND Sudan because of their radical beliefs--are welcomed by the Taliban into Afghanistan. -
9/11
Al-Qaeda terrorists launch an attack against the United States, killing more than 3,000 civilians. -
United States Invasion of Afghanistan
Operation Enduring Freedom.
