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Cold War Begins
Tensions between America and the Soviet Union lead to a 'Cold War', a phrase meaning a war without actual fighting, or with fighting through puppets or financial support. The two forces fought for "influence" in many countries throughout the world, including Afghanistan (New York Times). -
Hassan Is Born
Sanaubar gives "birth to Hassan", born to Sanaubar and Baba but raised by Ali (10). -
Sanaubar Elopes With A Circus Troupe
Soon after giving birth to Hassan, Sanaubar "eloped with a band of singers and dancers" (210). -
Monarchy In Afghanistan Replaced By Republic
While the king of Afghanistan was away from the country, his cousin took over "with a bloodless coup", making the nation a republic rather than a monarchy (Hosseini 36). -
Hassan Is Raped By Assef
Assef rapes Hassan in "one of the alleys" on a road near the bazaar following the kite competition (71). -
Soviet Union Invades Afghanistan
Soviet forces "vied with Britain for influence in Central Asia", invading Afghanistan (New York Times). -
Amir Escapes To Pakistan With Baba
Amir and Baba leave "Kabul just after two in the morning" and pay someone to take them to Pakistan (110). -
Ramin Khan Tries To Find Hassan
Ramn Khan goes "to Hazarajat to find Hassan" (203). -
Amir Finishes His First Novel
Amir finishes his first novel, "a father-son story set in Kabul" (182). -
Amir's First Novel Is Published
Amir's First Novel is "released in the summer of that following year, 1989" (183). -
Soviet Invasion Of Afghanistan Ends
Soviet troops in Afghanistan are ordered to leave the country, leaving it "devastated by the war" (New York Times). -
Shorawi Withdraws From Afghanistan Completely
In 1989, "the Shorawi completed their withdrawl from Afghanistan" (183). -
Farzana Becomes Pregnant For A Second Time
After her first stillborn, Farzana, Hassan's wife, becomes "pregnant again" (209). -
Sanaubar Returns To Hassan
Wanting to repent, Sanaubar "knocks on the front gates" of Hassan's home and lives with them. -
Dr. Rosen Tells Soraya To Consider Adoption
Dr. Rosen, a doctor Soraya consults about how to become pregnant, "used the word 'adoption' for the first time' during one of their visits. -
Amir Gets A New House
Using the advance payment for his second novel, Amir pays for "a pretty, two-bedroom Victorian house in San Francisco's Bernal Heights" (188). -
The Taliban Is Created
An Islamic group known as the Taliban "grew out of a student movement dedicated to purifying the country", with the mission of restoring Islam in the country to its former glory (New York Times). -
Osama Bin Laden Arrives In Afghanistan
The Taliban in Afghanistan "provided a haven for Mr. bin Laden, who arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport in May 1996, and for Al Qaeda" (New York Times). -
The Taliban Takes Control Of Afghanistan
Pakistan, the country to the east of Afghanistan, supports the Taliban, resulting in a takeover of Afghanistan by the group. Strict fundamentalist Islamic doctrine becomes law, "forcing women out of schools" (New York Times). -
The Taliban Kills Hassan And Farzana
The Taliban massacre "the Hazaras in Mazar-i-Sharif", including Hassan and Farzana. -
Post-9/11 American Invasion Of Afghanistan
American and American-allied forces invade Afghanistan, pushing the Taliban and Al-Qaeda into "the mountains along the Pakistan border" (New York Times). -
Ramin Khan Calls Amir
While in San Francisco, Amir gets a call from Ramin Khan, who says "There is a way to be good again" (2). -
9/11
The "Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda" leads to an invasion of Afghanistan by America (New York Times). -
The Taliban Rises And America Begins War
Following the rise of the Taliban, Barack Obama got a famous general from Iraq, General Petraeus, to "lead the war effort [in Afghanistan]" (New York Times). -
Obama Delivers Speech About Afghanistan
President Obama delivered a speech about his plan to "deploy 30,000 additional troops" in Afghanistan (New York Times).