Afghanistan: A Short History of Its People and PoliticsA fascinating chronicle of a nation's turbulent history. Reaching back to earliest times, Martin Ewans examines the historical evolution of one of today's most dangerous breeding grounds of global terrorism. After a succession of early dynasties and the emergence of an Afghan empire during the eighteenth century, the nineteenth and early twentieth century saw a fierce power struggle between Russia and Britain for supremacy in Afghanistan that was ended by the nation's proclamation of independence in 1919. A communist coup in the late 1970s overthrew the established regime and led to the invasion of Soviet troops in 1979. Roughly a decade later, the Soviet Union withdrew, condemning Afghanistan to a civil war that tore apart the nation's last remnants of religious, ethnic, and political unity. It was into this climate that the Taliban was born. Today, war-torn and economically destitute, Afghanistan faces unique challenges as it looks toward an uncertain future. Martin Ewans carefully weighs the lessons of history to provide a frank look at Afghanistan's prospects and the international resonances of the nation's immense task of total political and economic reconstruction. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 5
... King Zahir and Cautious Constitutionalism / 164 13. The Return of Daoud and the Saur Revolution / 176 14. Khalq Rule and Soviet Invasion / 189 15. Occupation and Resistance / 206 16. Humiliation and Withdrawal / 226 17. Civil War / 238 ...
... king , Poros , at the battle of Jhelum . By that time , however , his troops had had enough of the unknown , and ... king- doms , a treaty was negotiated and envoys were exchanged . From the middle of the third century B.C. , under the ...
... king- dom that was to withstand the Roman Empire and last until 226 A.D. Soon after Asoka's death in 232 B.C. , the Mauryan Empire declined , and in about 184 the Bactrian Greeks , having conquered Aria and Arachosia , captured Gandhara ...
... king , Kanishka , who prob- ably ruled during the second century A.D. , established a capital at Mathura and a northern capital near Peshawar . A summer capital was also founded at Kapisa in the Kohistan Valley . Trading links with the ...
... kings , themselves an Afghan dynasty , who had ruled in Delhi since 1451. In 1527 , he went on to defeat the Rajputs at Khanua , west of Agra , and established himself at the latter city as the founder of the dynasty of the Great Moguls ...
Contents
1 | |
15 | |
29 | |
The Rise of Dost Mohammed | 45 |
The First AngloAfghan War | 59 |
Dost Mohammed and Sher Ali | 71 |
The Second AngloAfghan War | 86 |
Abdur Rahman The Iron Amir | 98 |
King Zahir and Cautious Constitutionalism | 164 |
The Return of Daoud and the Saur Revolution | 176 |
Khalq Rule and Soviet Invasion | 189 |
Occupation and Resistance | 206 |
Humiliation and Withdrawal | 226 |
Enter the Taliban | 249 |
Oil Drugs and International Terrorism | 272 |
The Fall of the Taliban | 284 |
Habibullah and the Politics of Neutrality | 110 |
Amanullah and the Drive for Modernization | 118 |
The Rule of the Brothers | 136 |
The First Decade | 152 |
Notes | 301 |
Bibliography | 317 |