Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh

AfghanistanWhy have empires throughout history wanted to rule Afghanistan?

• It is a landlocked country.• The Hindu Kush mountain pass allows access to

other regions in Asia.• Has Mountain Valleys with abundant supplies of

water from the snow melt in the upper elevations.

History 1800’s

• Britain and Russia fought over Afghanistan. Why?

• Britain wanted to protect its colonies in India

• Russia wanted a warm water port and was trying to extend it’s empire.

History 1979

• Communist from the Soviet Union Invaded.

• With assistance from The United States Afghans fought the invaders.

• 10 years later (1989) Soviets withdrew

• Local groups fought for control.

Taliban

• Conservative Islamic group– Followed Strict Islamic Laws

• Public executions and punishments (such as floggings)

• Banned anything that was considered non-Islamic– Internet, Sports, Television, Music

• Men were required to wear beards

Taliban• Girls not allowed to attend school• Women banned from working outside the home.• Women prohibited from leaving their home without a male relative.

– those that did so risked being beaten, even shot, by officers of the "ministry for the protection of virtue and prevention of vice.“

• A woman caught wearing fingernail polish may have had her

fingertips chopped off.

Taliban

• Until 2000, allowed smuggling of Opium.

• Allowed Al-Qaeda to settle and train in Afghanistan

Al-Qaeda

• The group of terrorist and extremist responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

• Late 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan, suppressed the Taliban and bombed Al-Qaeda bases.

Afghanistan: Economics

• One of the World’s poorest countries

• 85% live by subsistence farming

• Long years of war devastated economy which prevented industries to grow.

Afghanistan: Culture

• Most Afghans practice the Islamic faith.

• Few people cannot read.

-Tell stories, sing folk songs, dance is an important art form

• Many rural people live in mud brick homes and dress in traditional clothing.

• Popular sport is competitive kite flying

• Buzkashi: another popular sport.

-Horsemen grab a dead animal carcass and try to drag it across a goal line.

Pakistan and Bangladesh

• Once the two countries were both part of Pakistan (East and West)

• East Pakistan people resented being ruled by a government a 1000 miles away.

• Civil War broke out in 1971

• East Pakistan gained it’s independence and became Bangladesh.

Culture, Climate, EconomyPakistan

• Pakistan has a dry climate

• Farmers rely on irrigation from rivers to grow crops

• Like India, Pakistan underwent a Green Revolution. (seeds yield more crops)

• Wheat is the main crop

• Trying to develop a natural gas resource

• Greatest threat to Pakistan is terrorism

Culture, Climate, EconomyBangladesh

• Greatest resource is fertile soil

• Rice is the main crop

• Cottage Industries exist throughout Bangladesh

• Men and women have little contact with each other outside the home.

• Many marriages are still arranged

• Ramadan is the major holiday.

Ramadan• Celebrates the time when the verses of the Qur'an were

revealed to the Prophet Muhammad

• Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, doing good deeds and spending time with family and friends.

• The fasting is intended to help teach Muslims self-discipline,

self-restraint and generosity. It also reminds them of the suffering of the poor, who may rarely get to eat well.

Questions

• 1. Why did Bangladesh break away from Pakistan?

• 2. Explain why empires throughout history have

wanted to rule Afghanistan?

• 3. Why were Britain and Russia fighting over

Afghanistan?