Afghanistan
Neha Ahmed
Mr. Sparks
8A
Where Afghanistan is located
• Asia
- Southwest Asia
• Neighbors:
-
Pakistan (to the southeast)
Iran (west)
Turkmenistan (northwest)
Uzbekistan (north)
Tajikistan (north)
China (northeast)
Geographic Features of Afghanistan
• Many mountain ranges and plateaus
-
-
Hindu Kush: a very long, high
mountain range and part of the
Himalayas in the northeast of
Afghanistan.
Smaller mountain ranges covering
most of Afghanistan.
More mountains in the southwest.
• Khyber Pass – a path through the
Hindu Kush from Afghanistan to
Pakistan
• Helmand River
-
Longest river (1150km/715mi) in
Afghanistan
Flows from the Hindu Kush
mountains to Hamun-i-Helmand
lake near the border in Iran
Khyber Pass
Physical: Importance of the Khyber Pass
• The Khyber Pass is a way from Afghanistan to Pakistan through
treacherous mountains that would otherwise be extremely difficult
to go through.
• Since Afghanistan is not located next to the sea, its people have to
trade over land. The Khyber Pass is extremely important because it
allows people to pass between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Without
it, it would be very difficult for Afghanistan to trade goods with the
countries in the East.
• The Khyber Pass also plays an important role in history. Many
conquerors passed through it. For example, Alexander the Great
used it to go and conquer India after conquering Afghanistan in the
early 300’s, as did the Mughal emperor Babur in the 1500’s.
• This is related to Global Awareness because people should be
aware of how physical features like this, which they may not think
much of, can be extremely important to a country for Afghanistan
gets many trading goods from the East. It is in between Southwest
Asia, Central Asia, and South Asia so throughout history people
have used the Khyber Pass to meet and trade through Afghanistan.
Climate of Afghanistan
• Hot summers
• Cold, dry winters
• Steppe climate in most of
Afghanistan.
-
Similar to a desert climate
Has little precipitation but
more than in a desert.
• Highland climate (several
climates in one area) in
mountainous area in the
northeast.
-
Hot climates at the bottom
of the mountains – cold
ones at the top
Higher mountains have
colder temperatures at the
top.
Environment of Afghanistan
• Plants:
-
• Animals:
-
Sheep
Bear
Wolf
Fox
Bats
Various rodents
Leopard (endangered)
Snow leopard (endangered)
Gazelle (endangered)
Bactrian deer (endangered)
Siberian crane (endangered)
Snow Leopard
Camel Thorn
Camel thorn
Locoweed
Mimosa
Wormwood
Sagebrush
Evergreens (in
mountains)
- Oaks (in mountains)
- Poplars (in mountains)
- Almond trees (in
mountains)
History of Afghanistan
Conquered
by Alexander
the Great
Genghis
Khan takes
over.
Gains
Independen
ce
330 BC
1219 AD
August 19th
1919 AD
Alexander the
Great
conquered
Afghanistan
and its
surrounding
regions.
The
Mongols,
under the
rule of
Genghis
Khan, take
over.
Afghanistan
gains
independenc
e again after
the third war
against
British forces
trying to
control it.
Soviet
Union
leaves
Taliban
takes over
Earthquake
s
Taliban
Falls
New
President
1989 AD
1997 AD
1998 AD
2001-2002
AD
October
2004 AD
The last
Soviet Union
forces leave
Afghanistan.
A political
group called
the Taliban,
which
follows Islam
very strictly,
is
recognized
by Pakistan
and Saudi
Arabia as
the rulers of
Afghanistan.
Major
earthquakes
kill
thousands of
people.
The Taliban
loses control
over most of
the country.
Hamid
Karzai wins
the elections
to become
President.
Customs and Traditions
Festivals:
•
On August 19th, Afghans celebrate
Afghanistan’s independence day.
•
As a Muslim country, Afghanistan
celebrates religious holidays according to
the Islamic lunar calendar.
•
In the holy Islamic month of Ramadan,
Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.
•
Eid-ul-Fitr is after Ramadan and Muslims
wear new clothes, go to special prayer in
the morning, and visit friends and family.
Children receive money called ‘Eidi’.
•
Eid-ul-Adha is on the 12th day of the 10th
month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims
sacrifice a cow, sheep, goat, or camel and
give some of the meat to the poor. They
also visit friends and family.
•
Mawleed Al-Nabi is on the 12th day of the
3rd month of the Islamic calendar and is
the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday.
Muslims remember Muhammad and visit
friends and family.
Traditional Clothing:
Social: Importance of Ramadan
• The month of Ramadan is extremely important to Muslims
because it is the month in which the Holy Quran (the
Muslims’ holy book) was revealed. Muslims believe that
during this month they get more reward for doing good
deeds so they try to stay on their best behaviour. Some
spend most of their evening praying or reading the Quran.
Fasting helps them to sympathize with the poor and if you
miss a fast, you have to make it up later. It is also a month
in which they try to become a better person and give to
charity. They believe that during this month, it is possible
for all your previous sins to be forgiven. All this makes
Ramadan a very special and important month for Muslims.
This relates to Global Awareness because it is important
for people to understand and be aware of other cultures
and religions, especially if they are living in a country
where their religion is a minority. Understanding each
other helps people get along.
Government of Afghanistan
•
Afghanistan has had almost every type of government system
over the last century.
•
It has 34 provinces, each with its own districts. Most provinces
are ruled by a governor.
•
Afghanistan has a President, a Cabinet of Ministers, a National
Assembly, and a Supreme Court.
•
The President is elected and enforces laws made by the House of
the People.
•
The Cabinet of Ministers is made up of the heads of all the
government ministries, who are chosen by the President.
•
The National Assembly is made up of two houses:
-
House of the People
House of Elders
•
The House of the People makes laws. There are 249 delegates
elected by district. At least two from each province must be
women, chosen by the President, who also chooses two disabled
and/or impaired and two Kuchis.
•
The House of the Elders advises the President. One third of it is
elected by district councils, one third by provincial councils, and
one third by the President. The district and provincial councils
elect one representative from each province. From the people
the president chooses, half have to be women and two disabled
and/or impaired and two Kuchis (a tribe in Afghanistan).
•
The Supreme Court has nine justices appointed by the
President. They see that the law is being followed and give
punishments to those who don’t.
Political: Importance of a President
• A president is a very important part of the
government. Without a government, and a
president, a country would have no-one to lead or
organize them and there would be chaos and civil
war. The President contributes a lot to the country.
He is always the one making decisions (with the
help of his advisors) to keep the country safe. He
approves of and enforces the laws suggested to
him by the House of the People. Without these
laws, criminals wouldn’t be afraid of consequences
and would therefore commit crime at will. The
President ensures the safety of his country and
sets a good example to the neighboring countries
and the world.
Economy of Afghanistan
•
“The long period of war has damaged
Afghanistan’s industry, trade, and
transportation systems. Farming and herding
are the most important economic activities
now.” (BOOK)
•
Afghanistan has had many wars recently and
is therefore one of the world’s poorest
countries.
•
The main industry is based on agriculture.
•
Main food crops:
- Corn
- Rice
- Wheat
- Fruits
- Nuts
Main exported crops:
- Cotton
- Tobacco
- Madder
- Castor beans
- Sugar beets
•
•
Sheep farming is also a big industry. The
main exported sheep products are:
- Wool
- Karakul skins (Karakul being a type of
sheep)
Tourism in Afghanistan
• Afghanistan is at war and is a very dangerous
country to visit. There are bombs so the place you
want to visit may be gone tomorrow. Due to this, it
has very little tourism.
Bibliography
• “Afghanistan.” 12 Dec 2007 29 Dec 2007
<https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/geos/af.html>.
• Sager, Robert J., David M. Helgren, and Alison S. Brooks. People, Places,
and Change. USA: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2003.
• “Environment.” 14 Dec 2007
<http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/december01_index.php?1=6
>.
• “Important Holidays/Occasions/Festivities Celebrated in Afghanistan.” 14
Dec 2007 <http://www.afghan-web.com/culture/holidays.html>.
• Frye, Richard N. “Helmand River.” 31 Dec 2007 5 Jan 2008
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmand_River>.
• Morgan, Matthew J. “Hamid Karzai.” 30 Dec 2007 3 Jan 2008
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamid_Karzai>.
• “Snow Leopards.” Dec 14 2007
<http://www.shunya.net/Pictures/Animals/SnowLeopards.htm>.
• Qazi, Abdulla. “Economy.” 04 Jan 2008 06 Jan 2008 <http://www.afghanweb.com/economy/>.
• “Afghanistan.” 28 Sep 2007 17 Dec 2007
<http://www.173rdairborne.net/images/afghan-time004.jpg>.