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Afganistan is declared a monarchy
In 1926, "Amanullah declares Afghanistan a monarchy, rather than an emirate, and proclaims himself king." -
Zahir Shah becomes king
In the year 1933, Shah becomes king and, "brings a semblance of stability to the country and rules for the next 40 years." -
Britain withdraws from India
In the year 1947, "creating the predominantly Hindu but secular state of India and the Islamic state of Pakistan. The nation of Pakistan includes a long, largely uncontrollable, border with Afghanistan." -
Woman are finally allowed to enter workforce
In the year 1957, it was said, "As part of Daoud’s reforms, women are allowed to attend university and enter the workforce." -
Amir is born
Amir is born during the summer of 1963, and turns "thirteen that summer of 1976"(93). His mother dies as she gives birth. Therefore, when Amir is born, there is a life lost. -
Hassan is born
Hassan is born "on a cold winter day in 1964" (6). Even when Amir's loses his mom, Hassan loses his too- but not by the same fate. Instead of death, his mother leaves within a week to join traveling dancers and singers. -
The Afghan Communist Party secretly forms
In the year 1965, the Afghan Communist Party forms, and ¨The group’s principal leaders are Babrak Karmal and Nur Mohammad Taraki.¨ -
Khan overthrows the last king
In the year of 1973, "Khan’s regime, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan, comes to power. Khan abolishes the monarchy and named himself president. The Republic of Afghanistan is established with firm ties to the USSR." -
Amir witnesses Hassan getting raped
After Hassan and Amir win the kite game Hassan is nowhere to be found. Until Hassan looks through an alley and sees Assef on, "[Hassan's} bare buttocks. [Assef] kept one hand on Hassan's back and undid his own belt buckle with his free hand." Assef is against Hazaras (as Hassan being one) and because Hassan is a Hazara, he rapes him as if he's 'trying to teach him a lesson'. -
Hassan and Amir's Kite Contest
On the day of the kite running contest, Hassan and Amir get ready excitingly. After many hours of cutting kites and sore necks, they finally won, with both of them "hopping up and down, both of [them] laughing and both of [them] weeping" (66). When they win, Amir receives Baba's approval. Hassan receives the joy of seeing Amir happy, but his day doesn't end as well. -
Amir Hits Hassan With Pomegranates
This day, Amir and Hassan go the pomegranate tree. Amir "pelted him again and again" with the fruit, wishing Hassan would hit back to "give [him] the punishment he craved" (92). After Amir betrayed Hassan, he feels guilty and he thinks Hassan hitting him will begin to atone for his actions. -
Hassan and Ali move out
After Baba and Amir have a talk with Ali and Hassan, Ali tells Baba that they have to leave them. Although Ali and Baba have been childhood friends they can't stay there anymore because Hassan tells Ali that he got raped. Ali tells Baba that, "'[They] are leaving...'"(Hosseini 106). Ali realizes that there's no good for them to stay with Ali and Baba anymore because of what Hassan goes through. Baba insists they stay after they say that but they don't listen and leave the area. -
Khan is killed and Mohammad Taraki takes control
In 1978, ¨Khan is killed in a communist coup. Nur Mohammad Taraki, one of the founding members of the Afghan Communist Party, takes control of the country as president, and Babrak Karmal is named deputy prime minister.¨ -
The United States stops helping Afghanistan
In 1979, "The United States cuts off assistance to Afghanistan. A power struggle between Taraki and Deputy Prime Minister Hafizullah Amin begins. Taraki is killed on Sept. 14 in a confrontation with Amin supporters." -
Baba and Amir travel to America
After finding out Baba's truck is non-repairable, they decided to cram in a fuel tank to get to America. "Panic. You open your mouth. Open it so wide your jaws creak. You order your lungs to draw air, NOW, you need air, need it NOW. But your airways ignore you," (Hosseini 121). The harsh environment shows how bad the war in Afghanistan really is and what Amir, Baba, and others are willing to go through to get to America. -
Baba and Amir leave Afghanistan
When Russian Soviets invade Afghanistan, Baba and Amir leave, in which the "truck's engine had blown the week before and Toor was still waiting for parts" (100). Baba and Amir are now stuck in a moldy and filthy basement. When the truck parts don't come in time, they are forced to pass the border in a fuel truck. -
Amir graduates and is handed a gift
After Amir's graduation, Baba guides Amir to an unfamiliar area to give Amir his present. "He reached in his coat pocket and handed me a set of keys. 'There,' he said, pointing to the car in front of us,"(Hosseini 113). Although Amir did work hard during his high school years, this shows he gets what he wants. Amir's also tends to take things for granted. -
Amir and Soraya get married
During this beautiful day, Amir can't help but wonder "if Hassan too had married" as well as "whose henna-painted hands he had held" (171). It has been many years since the winter day in 1975, or since Amir last saw his friend, yet Hassan continues to leave an impressionable mark in his life. Due to his remaining guilt, Amir will continue to be haunted by the little Hazara boy he once knew, unable to let go of the past until he atones for his previous sins. -
Baba dies
One night, Baba decides not to take his medicine, telling Soraya that there is "'no pain tonight'" (149). He never wakes up, and Amir starts planning his funeral. He hears of all the good things Baba has done for the community at the mosque. -
Amir gets his first novel published
During the summer of 1988, Amir writes his first novel. Amir's novel tells a story of a father and his son in Kabul. Amir "sent query letters to a dozen agencies was stunned one August day when [he] opened [his] mailbox and found a request from a New Yprk agency for the completed manuscript..." (182). Amir's hard work demonstrates how determined he was and how much effort he put into his novel. A year later, the book was released. -
The Mujahadeen and other rebel groups storm the capital Kabul
In 1992, ¨The Mujahadeen and other rebel groups, with the aid of turncoat government troops, storm the capital, Kabul, and oust Najibullah from power. Ahmad Shah Masood, legendary guerrilla leader, leads the troops into the capital.¨ -
The Taliban rises to power on promises of peace
In 1995, a new formed group the Taliban, ¨Most Afghans, exhausted by years of drought, famine and war, approve of the Taliban for upholding traditional Islamic values. The Taliban outlaw cultivation of poppies for the opium trade, crack down on crime, and curtail the education and employment of women.¨ -
Amir and Assef Fight
When Amir arrives in Pakistan, he is told to find Sohrab, Hassan's son. He ends up meeting up again with Assef, and Assef says that if he wants Sohrab, he needs to fight for him. As Amir is losing, Sohrab steps in and "had the slingshot pointed to Assef's face" (248). Sohrab stops Amir from almost dying. He ends up using the slingshot and leaves with Amir. -
Rahim Khan calls Amir
Amir receives a call from an ailing Rahim Khan, who calls him to Pakistan saying that "'there is a way to be good again'" (192).
At first glance, this is just another quotation that implies Rahim Khan is aware of Amir's past sins. However, it also shows that he knew Amir well enough to realize the effect and extent of Amir's guilt over the years. Despite how long it's been, this proves the strength and closeness of their relationship due to how easy it is for Rahim Khan to know this. -
Amir and Sohrab Fly a Kite
When he cuts a kite, Amir offers to run it for Sohrab. As Sohrab nods, Amir responds by saying "for you, a thousand times over", still thinking about the "lopsided" smile Sohrab had. (171). This an important occasion due to Sohrab's improvement, but it also shows growth in Amir. Now, Amir feels as though he has atoned for his sins with his family of Sohrab and Soraya.
