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Afghanistan is a completely landlocked nation, bordered by China on the far northeast, Pakistan on the east and south, Iran oh the west, and Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan on the north. It is a country of rugged terrain and harsh, dry climate.

Because of its location, Afghanistan has long been a crossroads for migrating people and conquering armies. For centuries, it was the site of great empires and trading routes. All of these ancient people and empires left their mark on the culture of Afghanistan, creating a large number of ethnic groups who live in the country today.

Yet Afghanistan remains one of the least developed countries in the world. Most of its people still live in small, tribal villages and work the land using old-fashioned farming tools The country's history has been long and troubled, filled with foreign invasions, political revolt, and civil war. Centuries of conflict have slowed the development of Afghanistan.

Even unified under a monarchy, Afghanistan still suffered form civil war between rival tribes. Foreign interference led to more wars on Afghan soil, as Great Britain and Russia fought for control of the country. Great Britain wanted to protect it's empire in India, and Russia want4ed an outlet to the Indian Ocean.

Early in 1919, Great Britain ended its involvement, and Afghanistan became fully independent in August of that year.

The Soviet Union sought to occupy Afghanistan in a war that lasted from 1979 to 1989. In the mid 1990's, a conservative Islamic group called the Taliban came to power. They allowed international terrorist organizations to create training camps in Afghanistan. Following devastating terrorist attacks against the United States in 2001, the United States and anti-Taliban forces within Afghanistan drove the Taliban from power.

In the late 600's, Arab conquerors swept into Afghanistan, defeating the Sassanians and the White Huns, who by then ruled the country. The Arabs brought with them the religion of Islam.

For the time of the Arab conquest until 1747, many armies fought over Afghanistan. Turkic-speaking people from eastern Persia and central Asia ruled from about 900 to 1200. The country was conquered by the Mongols, led by Genghis Khan, in the 1200's, and then by the Timurids in the 1300's. The magnificent Blue Mosque at Mazar-e Sharif dates from the Timurid period.

From the mid-1500's to to the early 1700's, Safavids from Persia and Mongols from India struggled for control. In 1747, Afghan tribes became united for the first time in history under the leadership of Ahmad Shah Durrani. He established a monarchy that remained in power until 1973, when Afghanistan became a republic.

In the late 1990's, the Taliban ruled most of Afghanistan, imposing a harsh interpretation of Islamic law. However, few nations recognized the Taliban government as the legal government of Afghanistan.

Many Afghans disagreed with the Communist policies, claiming they violated Islamic teaching. They were also angered by the Soviet Union's influence on their government. these resistance fighters began to call themselves *mujahideen* (holy warriors). Fighting broke out between the mujahideen and the government. The Soviet Union sent troops into Afghanistan to help the government fight the mujahideen. The United States sent weapons to the mujahideen.

This conflict caused much death and destruction in Afghanistan. By the time the Soviets began to withdraw their troops in 1988, about 1-1/2 million Afghans had died.

Women have traditionally played a secondary role in Afghan society. Their opportunities for education and careers have been limited. Men dominate women in many ways. For example, some Afghan tribes do not allow women to leave their homes without a male relative.

During the 1900's, several Afghan governments tried to give women more rights. In 1964, for example, a new constitution gave Afghan women equal status with men, and the social and economic position of some improved. However, most women in rural areas never gained more rights. In the 1990's and early 200's, the Taliban greatly limited the freedom of women. For example, the Taliban required all women to work outside their homes. Women who violated Taliban laws were punished severely.