One book to understand the roots of 800 years of conflict and upheaval in Afghanistan
A complete account of Afghanistan’s history since its founding
Every issue facing Afghanistan explained in one place
Through an account of 800 years of Afghan history
A precise forecast of the turmoil Afghanistan would face after the U.S. withdrawal
Learn the Taliban’s history and origins
Discover the past and present of the “graveyard of empires”
This is a must-read
At the crossroads of Asia and the Middle East, Afghanistan has held strategic importance for thousands of years. Modern Afghanistan is a culturally and ethnically diverse country, yet it is also fractured by conflict, political instability, and the mass displacement of its people. In this authoritative illustrated history, Jonathan L. Lee tells how a small tribal confederation in a region of great political and cultural significance, yet marked by turmoil, became a modern nation-state.
Drawing on more than forty years of research, Lee places the conflicts confronting Afghanistan today in their historical context and challenges Western preconceptions about the country. In a chronological account of the region’s monarchs and the Durrani dynasty, he focuses on each ruler and their efforts to balance tribal, ethnic, regional, and religious factions. He then examines the struggles over social and constitutional reform and the rise of Islamic and communist movements. By studying Persian histories, memoirs by Afghan government officials, archival documents from the British government and the India Office, recently declassified CIA reports, and WikiLeaks documents, he offers fresh cultural and political insights. Lee also sheds new light on the country’s foreign relations, internal power struggles, and interventions by foreign forces, including the so-called “War on Terror.”
The first part was confused by the names of people and places, but in the 19th century, especially after the first Anglo-Afghan War, as the interaction with more familiar world history increased, it became fascinating. This book is very detailed without losing depth.
The content of this book is so exciting! It tells the 800-year history of Afghanistan very clearly. I especially like the part about the monarchy and the Durrani Dynasty in the book. The author describes in great detail the efforts of the various Afghan rulers to balance the forces of all parties. This book also provided many new clues about Afghanistan and gave me a deeper understanding of the country. I highly recommend you read this book too!