Brief History

Officially called the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, it is believed that civilizations have occupied the country for more than 50,000 years. The first documented history is from the Achaemenian dynasty, which controlled the area from 550 BC until 331 BC. Alexander the Great defeated the Achaemenian emperor between 331 BC and 327 BC. Alexander, along with his successors the Seleucids, brought Greek influence to the area. After this, the Mauryan Empire of India gained control over southern Afghanistan. Next nomadic Kushans established an empire in the area. The Arabs arrived in Afghanistan during 642 AD and introduced Islam. After Arab rule, the Persians controlled the area until 988, when they were conquered by the Turkic Ghaznavids. In 1219, the Mongols, led by Genghis Khan, invaded the area. After Genghis Khan’s death, many people fought for supremacy. It was in the 14th century that a man named Tamerlane made Afghanistan a part of his own vast Asian empire. In 1747, Afghanistan became a part of the Durrani Empire. Then in the 19th century, it became a buffer state between the British Indan Empire and the Russian Empire. On August 19, 1919, Afghanistan gained full independence from the United Kingdom. Afghanistan has had a tumultuous history, being ruled by many different groups. The country still faces many difficulties today.

National Flag

The national flag of Afghanistan is a tricolour. Black on the left, red in the middle, green on the right. With the national emblem in the middle. The flag has changed a lot over the years, however has not changed since 2004.

Geography

Afghanistan is contrasting country in terms of its landscape. Large parts of the country are dry and flat, however other parts are mountainous. Afghanistan is a landlocked country surrounded by neighbouring countries Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan ,Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

World Land Mass Ranking. 41st largest.
Highest Mountain. Hoshaq. (7,492m)
Longest River. Helmand River. (1,150km, 715 miles)

Main Languages

Persian (Dari or Farsi) & Pashto.

Afghanistan Population: 37.2 million
(as of 2019)
Capital City: Kabul.
Capital City Population: 5.2 million
(as of 2019)

Climate

Seasons. Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. The summers and hot and the winters are hold. Temperatures in the summer can reach 50 degrees C. (120 degrees F) The winters in mountainous areas can get very cold. -25 degrees C. (-13 degrees F)

Key People

• Hamid Karzai
• Ashraf Ghani

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  Cuisine

  The cuisine of Afghanistan is unique but has also been influenced by surrounding countries. The nation’s chief crops are key parts of the cuisine, including rice, wheat, corn, and barley. Common fruits in Afghanistan are melons, pomegranates, grapes, and figs. The national dish of Afghanistan is Kabuli Palau, which is made from basmati rice infused with flavour from spices, onions, carrots, raisins, and almonds. Other common Afghan foods are rice dishes, naan bread, kebabs, and various kinds of yogurts.

   

  The picture is a picture of some popular Afghan dishes.

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  Sports

  The most popular sports in Afghanistan are football and cricket. The Afghanistan national football team has done well and won several competitions. The national sport of Afghanistan is called Buzkashi. This sport is played by men mounted on horses who are trying to get a dead goat into a goal. It is believed that Buzkashi was invented over 3,000 years ago.

   

  The picture is a picture of the national Afghanistan cricket team.

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  Culture

  About 99.7% of the population of Afghanistan is Muslim, and the Islam religion is an important part of the nation’s culture. It plays a part in how people dress, greet others, eat, and so much more. Art is an important part of the culture of Afghanistan, and the first known usage of oil painting was found in caves murals in the country. Other art forms including carpet making and ceramics are prominent in the culture of Afghanistan. Poetry has been a passion and tradition in Afghanistan for years.

   

  The picture is a picture of women painting at the Center for Contemporary Arts Afghanistan.

   

  Afghanistan is a beautiful country with wonderful people.

   

  Download questions about the Afghanistan here: Afghanistan (answers are on this page)

  Teachers. For more in depth work sheets on Afghanistan. Click on Kidskonnect Worksheets

   

  For further reading and more info on the Afghanistan visit https://kids.kiddle.co/Afghanistan