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Start of an Era
All in the same year, "Baba was born," , "Zahir Shah began his forty-year reign of Afghanistan," and Ali's parents were killed and he was taken in by Baba's father (24). Three major events that would impact Amir's life all happened in the same year. This was the beginning of Baba and Ali's relationship, which led to Amir and Hassan's. 1933 was the first year of the last peaceful reign in Afghanistan for a long time. -
Hassan was born
In the small shack where Ali and Hassan lived while serving Amir and Baba, "Sanaubar gave birth to [Hassan] one cold winter day in 1964," (6). This was the moment Hassan, Amir's closest friend and biggest mistake, was brought to life. Just like the day Hassan was raped, his birthday was a cold winter one. -
Baba began building an orphanage (late 1960s)
In the late 1960s Baba began to build an orphanage in which he, "had personally funded the entire project, paying for the engineers, electricians, plumbers, and laborers," (13). By doing this Baba was trying to atone for his actions against Ali and Hassan. His accomplishment was great, however it did not directly effect Ali or Hassan. -
king Zahir Shah's reign ended
After a shooting the night before, Amir, Hassan and the rest of Kabul woke up to find that Zahir Shah's cousin, "Daoud Khan had ended the king's forty-year reign with a bloodless coup," (36). This was also the end to the pleasurable way of life of Kabul. Soon after this, Amir and Hassan's relationship would begin to crumble. -
Hassan overpowers Assef
This was the day after Daoud Khan took over Afghanistan in a coup and Assef would've hurt Amir has Hassan not had, "a rock the size of a walnut," pointed at Assef's eye in his slingshot (42). Although Hassan was able to scare Assef off, Assef vowed to take revenge on both Hassan and Amir. This incident eventually lead to Hassan's sexual harrassment, his death, his son becoming an orphan and Amir's beating. Had Amir been able to stand up for himself, Hassan could possibly still be alive. -
Hassan's surgery
For Hassan's birthday one year, Baba hired Dr. Kumar to fix his harelip and said that, "this present [would] last [him] forever," (46). Baba never missed Hassan's birthday and always got him a gift. This was an attempt to try and connect with the secret son he could never treat normally. -
The last time Hassan ran a kite
Hassan, "[ran] a kite for the last time," in the winter of 1975 (55). This is because Assef raped Hassan when he was going after the last kite of the tournament. Not only did this horrifying event cause Hassan's happiness to die, but Hassan and Amir's relationship as well. -
Ali and Hassan leave
At the end of the summer in 1976, Ali told Hassan that, "life [there was] impossible for [them]," and they would be leaving (106). (Although it is not specifically said in the book) This is because of Hassan's getting raped, as well as Amir's not wanting them there anymore. Hassan knew Amir saw him get raped and to live with him and Baba would be unbearable. -
The Soviet Union Invades
"Since 1979, when the Soviet Union invaded," Afghanistan has known little peace since then and has become a military struggle for the U.S. (The New York Times). -
Baba and Amir leave Kabul
In March of 1981 Baba and Amir, "left Kabul just after two in the morning," (110). This would mark the end of their lives in Kabul. Kabul was their original home with their original friends, however they had to leave because of the dangers that would come with staying. -
Amir graduated high school
At the beginning of the summer in 1983, Amir, "graduated from high school at the age of twenty," (131). Baba was very proud of his accomplishment. For his son the finish high school and go off to college gave him something to brag about to his peers. -
Amir first sets eyes on Soraya
On this day in the Afghan section of the flea market, Amir first set eyes on Soraya and described her as, "a princess from old Persia," (140). Amir was mesmerized by her beauty and immediately had feelings for her. Although they did not talk on this day, Amir was very attracted to her. -
The Soviet Air Force begins having problems
Due to the U.S. suppling rebels with antiaircraft missiles, "the Soviet Air Force was [also] rendered largely useless," (The New York Times). -
Rahim Khan went in search of Hassan
In 1986 Rahim Khan, "went to Hazarajat to find Hassan," because of his loneliness (203). Nearly all of Rahim Khan's friends and family were dead or left the country and Hassan was all he could turn to. By bringing Hassan and his family back to Baba's old house, he gave them a more proper housing situation than their mud hut and Sohrab was able to grow up in the same area his father did. -
The Soviet troops leave Afghanistan
The Soviet troops eventually left Afghanistan, but only, "after peace talks moderated by the United Nations," (The New York Times). -
Sohrab is born
In the winter of 1990, "Farzana became pregnant again," and, "it was Sanaubar who delivered," Sohrab (209, 211). Hassan had never really met his mother before and for her to deliver his son was very emotional. Sohrab was able to have a family as a child, however this peace would not last. -
Afghanistan divided among competing leaders
After the soviet troops finally left, Afghanistan, "was anarchically divided among competing warlords and individual fiefdoms," (The New York Times). -
Taliban seized control of Afghanistan
In 1996 the Taliban, "the extremist Islamic group," seized control of Afghanistan after years of civil war (The New York Times). -
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Taliban Takeover
The Taliban was created by a student movement, "dedicated to purfigying the country," and it's first doing occurred when Mullah Omar gathered, "a small band of men and attacked a group of warlords who had raped a girl and shaved her head," (The New York Times). Mullah Omar gained many followers and with help from Pakistan, was given, "arms, money and supplies," as well has military advisers to help them in battle (The New York Times). -
The United States invades Afghanistan
During the invasion by the United States in 2001, the U.S., "succceeded in dislodging Al Qaeda and removing the Taliban from power,". This plan was however scrapped because the Obama administration, "increasingly emphasizes the idea that the United States will have forces in the country until at least the end of 2014," (The New York Times). -
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Post 9/11 Invasion (by the U.S.)
After 9/11, President George W. Bush, "gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin Laden," (The New York Times). They refused and the U.S. joined with rebel groups who opposed Taliban rule and an, "air and ground campaign began that drove the Taliban out of the Major Afghan cities by the end of the year," (The New York Times). -
Rahim Khan calls Amir
In June of 2001, Rahim Khan called Amir and, "Rahim Khan [was] very sick," (191). Amir would eventually have to leave for Pakistan because of this call. His trip would change the rest of his life forever in a way that he could atone for his and Baba's pasts. -
Amir and Sohrab return to America
After Sohrab healed from his attempt at suicide, he and Amir arrived in America, "on a warm day in August 2001," (357). Sohrab did not want to be in America, instead he wanted his old life back. His unenthusiastic reaction to America was heartbreaking for both Amir and Soraya. -
New Leader of Afghanistan
Hamid Karzai, "a supporter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah, the exiled former king of Afghanistan," became the leader of the country (The New York Times). -
Sohrab flies a kite
At a gathering at the Lake Elizabeth Park, Amir wona kite for Sohrab and, "one corner of his mouth had curled up just so," and created a small smile (370). Although it was just a small smile, it was a huge moment for Amir and Sohrab, because he had not smiled or shown any real emotions since before his suicide. This might've been the beginning to the end of Sohrab's pain. -
Hamid Karzai elected president
Hamid Karzai, "was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004," (The New York Times). -
The U.S. calles for withdrawal from Afghanistan
The original plan was, "for American combat forces to begin withdrawing from Afghanistan in the summer of 2011" (The New York Times).