-
Baba is Born
In the book it says, "In 1933...Baba was born" (Hosseini 24). Throughout his life, Baba affected and touched many people's lives most of the time in a good way. Additionally, Baba's upbringing is important because his opinion about Hazaras, since he grew up with Ali. -
Zahir Shah Began his Reign of Afghanistan
Shortly after Baba's birth, "In 1933...Zahir Shah began his forty-year reign of Afghanistan" (Hosseini 24). Sadly, Zahir Shah's influence over where he ruled turned deadly and dangerous for the Hazaras because they were not treated like normal. This affected the way people thought of and disrespected Hazaras throughout Amir's life. -
Amir is Born and his Mother Dies
In the beginning of the book, Amir tells the reader, "1964, just one year after my mother died giving birth to me" (Hosseini 6). Amir always thinks that it was his fault that his mother died, and that his father hates him for it. He was born thinking he is a burden to his father, that is why he does not fully think through situations that might add guilt to his life because he feels he deserves it. -
Baba Starts to Build an Orphanage
Rahim Khan tells Amir of how "In the late 1960s...Baba decided to build an orphanage" (Hosseini 13). Baba was criticized for not hiring a architect and drawing he blueprints by himself. Of course the orphanage turned out how Baba wanted it to, shocking everyone, which is just another reason why Amir looks up to him and how he has to live up to Baba's societal and social greatness. -
Baba Takes Amir to Ghargha Lake
In the book, Amir tells of when "Baba took [him] to Ghargha Lake...He asked [him] to fetch Hassan too, but [he] lied and told him Hassan had the runs" (Hosseini 13). Amir was jealous of how much Baba loved Hassan over him, so he tried to get Baba all to himself so he could get closer to him. However, this just added to the piling up of guilt inside of Amir and did not help him get closer to his father. -
Amir watches Hassan Get Raped
Amir contemplating if he should help Hassan thinks, "I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan---the way he'd stood up for me all those times in the past---and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run. In the end, I ran" (Hosseini 77). Amir was in shock seeing what Assef and his friends were doing to Hassan in the alley and did not know what to do. He wants to help Hassan but he thinks it would ruin the moment of triumph when he returns home to Baba with his winning kite. -
Amir's 13th Birthday Party
While waiting for hi birthday to come, Amir remembers "scanning over the invitation list a week before my birthday party and not recognizing at least three-quarters of the four-hundred--plus Kakas and Khalas" (Hosseini 94). Amir soon becomes aware of how none of the guests were coming for him, but to see Baba. Amir feels unwanted and overshadowed by his father throughout his life. -
Hassan and Ali Move Away from Amir and Baba
The day after Amir's birthday party, Ali tells Baba, "'We are leaving...Life is impossible for us now"' (Hosseini 106). Overcome by guilt from Hassan, Amir finds a way to get Hassan in trouble knowing that Hassan will take the blame to prevent Amir from getting in trouble like he has done throughout their childhood. However, Ali sees this as the last straw for Amir, so he decides to have him and Hassan move away leaving Baba in shock. -
The Soviet Union Invaded Afganistan
In the 1900s, Russia fought with other countries to gain authority over parts of Asia, and "The first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on December 27, 1979 to assist Babrack Kamal, who had become president of a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership" (New York Times 2). -
Amir and Baba Flee to Pakistan
While fleeing from Kabul, Amir's, "inwards had been rolling since [Baba and Amir] left Kabul just after two in the morning...[their servant] would probably think [they had] gone for a stroll or drive" (Hosseini 110-112). Amir and Baba did not tell anyone they did not trust they were leaving because if authorities found out they would most likely be punished. There in Pakistan they could fly to the United States and star a new a safer life there, rather than live in constant fear. -
Amir Graduates High School
Amir recalls his graduation as, "That summer of 1983, I graduated from high school at the age of twenty, by far one of he oldest senior tossing his mortarboard on the football field that day" (Hosseini 131). Although Amir was older that all the other graduating students at his high school, Baba was overcome with joy. To Baba, Amir graduating high school helped him see good in his new life in California. -
Baba Makes a Scene at the Grocery Store
While flipping through a book in a different store, Amir "heard screaming and glass breaking...[he found] on the floor: oranges...and shards of glass by Baba's feet" (Hosseini 127). Baba had a lot of trouble trying to adjust to life in America, so much that he got flustered and made a scene at the store and Amir had to calm him down. This shows how in America the roles of who depends on who changed to Baba depending on Amir, which shows that Amir is more imporant to Baba than ever before. -
Baba Buys a Bus
Amir and Baba started getting in the habit of visiting and selling things at the flea market when "Baba sold his Buick and bought a dilapidated '71 Volkswagen bus for $550 from an old Afghan acquaintance" (Hosseini 137). Buying the bus was the gateway towards making their weekend routine of buying then selling random items. This increased the amount of time Amir and Baba spent together an eventually helped Amir meet his wife, Soraya. -
Baba Dies
One night, Soraya told Baba she would go get his medicine for his cancer, but he insisted, "'Not tonight...There is not pain tonight'...Baba never woke up" (Hosseini 173). Baba's death was expected, but it tore a deep hole in Amir's heart and his life. It was a good thing the Amir married Soraya before his father's death so Amir could have someone to lean on. Additionally, being a newlywed helped take a little off of Amir's mind. -
Amir Finishes his First Novel
Two years after Baba's death, finally "In the summer of 1988...[Amir] finished my first novel, a father-son story set in Kabul" (Hosseini 182). Amir wishes Baba was alive to see him finish his first novel especially because how Baba became more supportive as the number of years they lived in California grew. However, at least Amir got to see his father tell people proudly that his on was a writer. -
The Last Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
After ten years of the troops occupying Russia, and after peace talks given by the United Nations, the last amount of Soviet Troops left Afghanistan. However, the soldiers leaving, "left behind a country that was not only devastated by the war but had to become a beacon to Islam extremists from across the globe who had to come assist in the fighting, including Osama bin Laden" (New York Times 2). -
Taliban Gains Followers
By 1994, "Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east" (New York Times 2). -
Taliban Takes Over Afghanistan
As expected by the large amount of people following their group, "The Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan, imposing strict enforcement of fundamental Islamic law, banning movies, and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-enveloping burqa clothing" (New York Times 3). -
Osama bin Laden Arrives
While the Taliban controlled Afghanistan, they "provided a haven for Mr. bin Laden, who arrived by a chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport in May 1996" (New York Times 3). -
Period: to
Post 9/11 Invasion
Eventually, the United States, along with other forces, "drove the Taliban out of the major Afghan cities by the end of the year...Al Qaeda and Taliban leadership retreated to Tora Bora in the mountains along the Pakistan border and eventually escaped after a battle there" (New York Times 3). -
Amir Arrives Home With Sohrab
After the heartbreak and torment when Sorhab tried to kill himself, Amir convinces Sohrab to come live in America with him and his wife where "Soraya picked [them] up at the airport" (Hosseini 357). Amir was grateful to have Sohrab alive and be able to fly on a plane home with him because he felt he owed Hassan at least something to attempt to make up for all the times Hassan stood up for him. This also means, Soraya and Amir have a chance to experience parenthood, which they always wanted. -
9/11 Attack Prompts USA to Take Action
Yeas later, "After the attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept 11, 2001, President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin Laden. When it refused, the United States joined forces with rebel groups that had never accepted Taliban rule" (New York Times 3). -
Hamid Kazari Returns To The Afghani Government
Not long after the 9/11 attack,"Hamid Karzai...the exiled former king of Afghanistan, was named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban, making him the leader of the country" (New York Times 3). -
Hamid Kazari Becomes President of Afghanistan
Hamid Kazari "took office as interim president in June 2002, saying he hoped to secure peace for Afghanistan and win the country much-needed international aid" (New York Times 3). -
General Petraeus Becomes in Charge of United States Central Command in Afghanistan
The Iraq commander, "General Petraeus, [took] charge of United States Central Command in October 2008, with responsibility for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and across the region" (New York Times 4). -
Obama Deploys Troops but Promises to Bring Them Back
While in the midst of choice of how the USA should help Afghanistan President Obama delivered "a speech...at West Point, [he] announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops. He vowed to start bringing American forces home from Afghanistan in the middle of 2011" (New York Times 4).