Afghanistan
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| - | # A landlocked country in Central [[Asia]]. Official name: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Capital: [[Kabul]]. Official languages: [[Persian]] ([[Dari]]), [[Pashto]]. | + | '''Afghanistan''' is a [[landlocked country]] located within [[South Asia]] and [[Central Asia]]. It has a population of approximately 32 million, making it the [[list of countries by population|42nd]] most populous country in the world. It is bordered by [[Pakistan]] in the south and east; [[Iran]] in the west; [[Turkmenistan]], [[Uzbekistan]], and [[Tajikistan]] in the north; and [[China]] in the far northeast. Its territory covers {{convert|652,000|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, making it the [[List of countries and dependencies by area|41st largest]] country in the world. |
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| + | Human habitation in Afghanistan dates back to the [[Middle Paleolithic]] Era, and the country's [[Geostrategy|strategic]] location along the [[Silk Road]] connected it to the cultures of the Middle East and other parts of Asia. Through the ages the land has been home to various peoples and witnessed numerous military campaigns; notably by [[Alexander the Great]], [[Maurya Empire|Mauryas]], [[Islamic conquest of Afghanistan|Muslim Arabs]], [[Mongol invasion of Khwarezmia and Eastern Iran|Mongols]], [[First Anglo-Afghan War|British]], [[Soviet war in Afghanistan|Soviet]], and in the modern-era by [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Western powers]]. The land also served as the source from which the [[Kushan Empire|Kushans]], [[Hephthalite Empire|Hephthalites]], [[Samanid Empire|Samanids]], [[Saffarid Empire|Saffarids]], [[Ghaznavids]], [[Ghorids]], [[Khilji dynasty|Khiljis]], [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]], [[Hotak Empire|Hotaks]], [[Durrani dynasty|Durranis]], and others have risen to form major empires. | ||
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| + | The political history of the modern state of Afghanistan began with the Hotak and Durrani dynasties in the 18th century. In the late 19th century, Afghanistan became a [[buffer state]] in the "[[The Great Game|Great Game]]" between [[British Raj|British India]] and the [[Russian Empire]]. Following the [[Third Anglo-Afghan War]] in 1919, [[Amanullah Khan|King Amanullah]] unsuccessfully attempted to modernize the country. It remained peaceful during [[Mohammed Zahir Shah|Zahir Shah]]'s forty years of monarchy. A series of coups in the 1970s was followed by a [[War in Afghanistan (1978–present)|series of civil wars]] that devastated much of Afghanistan and continues to this day. | ||
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| + | == See also == | ||
| + | * [[Afghanistanism]] | ||
| + | * [[Bibliography of Afghanistan]] | ||
| + | * [[Environmental issues in Afghanistan]] | ||
| + | * [[Index of Afghanistan-related articles]] | ||
| + | * [[International rankings of Afghanistan]] | ||
| + | * [[List of power stations in Afghanistan]] | ||
| + | * [[Outline of Afghanistan]] | ||
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Revision as of 07:31, 18 October 2016
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Afghanistan is a landlocked country located within South Asia and Central Asia. It has a population of approximately 32 million, making it the 42nd most populous country in the world. It is bordered by Pakistan in the south and east; Iran in the west; Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan in the north; and China in the far northeast. Its territory covers Template:Convert, making it the 41st largest country in the world.
Human habitation in Afghanistan dates back to the Middle Paleolithic Era, and the country's strategic location along the Silk Road connected it to the cultures of the Middle East and other parts of Asia. Through the ages the land has been home to various peoples and witnessed numerous military campaigns; notably by Alexander the Great, Mauryas, Muslim Arabs, Mongols, British, Soviet, and in the modern-era by Western powers. The land also served as the source from which the Kushans, Hephthalites, Samanids, Saffarids, Ghaznavids, Ghorids, Khiljis, Mughals, Hotaks, Durranis, and others have risen to form major empires.
The political history of the modern state of Afghanistan began with the Hotak and Durrani dynasties in the 18th century. In the late 19th century, Afghanistan became a buffer state in the "Great Game" between British India and the Russian Empire. Following the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919, King Amanullah unsuccessfully attempted to modernize the country. It remained peaceful during Zahir Shah's forty years of monarchy. A series of coups in the 1970s was followed by a series of civil wars that devastated much of Afghanistan and continues to this day.
See also
- Afghanistanism
- Bibliography of Afghanistan
- Environmental issues in Afghanistan
- Index of Afghanistan-related articles
- International rankings of Afghanistan
- List of power stations in Afghanistan
- Outline of Afghanistan
