Afghanistan - History

History

History of Afghanistan
Timeline
Ancient
Proto-Elamite civilization 2300–1800 BCE
Indus valley civilization 2200–1800 BCE
Oxus civilization 2100–1800 BCE
Aryans 1700–700 BCE
Median Empire 728–550 BCE
Achaemenids 550–330 BCE
Seleucids 330–150 BCE
Mauryans 305–180 BCE
Greco-Bactrians 256–125 BCE
Indo-Greeks 180–130 BCE
Indo-Scythians (Sakas) 155–80? BCE
Indo-Parthians 20 BCE – 50? CE
Kushans 135 BCE – 248 CE
Sassanids 230–565
Indo-Sassanids 248–410
Kidarites 320–465
Hephthalites 410–557
Kabul Shahi 565–879
Medieval
Rashidun Caliphate 642–641
Umayyads 661–750
Abbasids 750–821
Tahirids 821–873
Saffarids 863–900
Samanids 875–999
Ghaznavids 963–1187
Seljukids 1037–1194
Khwarezmids 1077–1231
Ghorids 1149–1212
Ilkhanate 1258–1353
Kartids 1245–1381
Timurids 1370–1506
Arghun 1479–1522
Mughals 1501–1738
Safavids 1510–1709
Modern
Hotaki dynasty 1709–1738
Afsharids 1738–1747
Durrani Empire 1747–1826
Emirate 1826–1919
Kingdom 1919–1973
Republic 1973–1978
Democratic Republic 1978–1992
Islamic State 1992–2001
Islamic Emirate 1996–2001
Islamic Republic 2001–
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Excavations of prehistoric sites by Louis Dupree and others suggest that humans were living in what is now Afghanistan at least 50,000 years ago, and that farming communities in the area were among the earliest in the world. An important site of early historical activities, many believe that Afghanistan compares to Egypt in terms of the historical value of its archaeological sites.

The country sits at a unique nexus point where numerous civilizations have interacted and often fought. It has been home to various peoples through the ages, among them the ancient Iranian peoples who established the dominant role of Indo-Iranian languages in the region. At multiple points, the land has been incorporated within large regional empires, among them the Achaemenid Empire, the Macedonian Empire, the Indian Maurya Empire, the Islamic Empire and the Sassanid Empire.

Many kingdoms have also risen to power in what is now Afghanistan, such as the Greco-Bactrians, Kushans, Hephthalites, Kabul Shahis, Saffarids, Samanids, Ghaznavids, Ghurids, Kartids, Timurids, Mughals, and finally the Hotaki and Durrani dynasties that marked the political origins of the modern state.

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