The Kite Runner

WEBQUEST

History
What happens in 1921?

Afghanistan becomes an independent nation. The Anglo-Afghan

treaty was signed, a treaty of friendship between Afghanistan
and Russia

What happens in 1933?

Kin Nadir Shah was assassinated, ascension of his son

Muhammed Zahir Shah

With whom does Gen. Mohammed Daoud Khan make and

alliance? Why?

Russia (Khrushchev), to help Afghanistan

1973 was a pivotal point in Afghanistans history. Why?

King Zahir Shah deposed & Daoud Khan (his cousin) became president
and prime minister

Why does Osama shift his focus from the Soviet Union to the
United States in 1988?

They bombed one of his training sites just outside of Kabul

In 1992, Afghanistan endures yet another coup.

Taken over by guerilla forces (the mujahedeen). They cant unite the
country, it breaks up into several independent zones, each with its own
ruler

Why do most Afghans believe the Taliban takeover in 1993 is a

good thing at first?

Hope for a united country, and some peace

Why do more than a million Afghans flee to Pakistan

between the years of 1995-1999?

The Taliban

What was Americas answer to the attacks on Sept. 11,

2001?

They invaded, and appointed Hamid Karzai as president

What trends to you see in history?

War

People invade, then leave, lots of infighting

Favouring of Pashtun values

What do these suggest about life for the average citizen?

Life is chaotic

Literacy levels are extremely low

Few modern medical facilities (years of war doesnt allow you to develop
much infrastructure)

They live a more subsistence lifestyle

What do they suggest about Afghan national identity and values?

People become more loyal to their tribes than the country itself

How does the countrys basic information affect its national

identity?

No real national identity

No national anthem, flag was abandoned

Years of war and trial fighting makes it next to impossible to unify everyone

Religion and Faith

What are the differences between Sunni and Shiite Islam?

Like the difference between Catholics and Protestants

Happened after Mohammeds death

Sunni:

Recognize Abu Bakr as successor to Mohammed

90% of Muslims worldwide

Shiite:

Recognize Ali ibn Abi Talib as successor

Accept different oral traditions and have different laws

How is Islam integral to Afghan culture?

Afghans live their live according to the tenets of Islam

Family is super important

They make yearly trips to Mecca

What are the basic tenets of Islam?

5 Pillars: 1)Faith, 2)Prayer, 3) Zakat (charity), 4) Fast (Ramadan), 5)

Pilgrimage (Haji)

Monotheistic religion (one god), Allah

Prophet: Mohammed

What other religions have similar beliefs?

Christianity

Judiasm

Why do you think these religions, if they are so similar,

seem to have difficulty getting along?

Seems to be human nature to fear the unknown

We view differences as threats, not just differences

Daily Life
(Dress/Food/Recreation/Economy)
What does an Afghan citizens clothing choices suggest
about his/her position in the culture?

Before the Taliban, clothing which reflected Western culture was

popular in urban areas, more traditional in rural areas

Especially at weddings, your clothing choice indicates your

position in society

What does traditional Afghan clothing suggest about

cultural values?

Based upon what Islam teaches modest dress

Religion is important

How do Afghan recreational activities illustrate cultural

priorities?

Theyre violent

Teamwork and communication are essential for them, the group

is important

Describe the Afghan economy. What are its current

challenges? Why?

Its hard to develop any economic infrastructure when you are

constantly at war

85% of population are farmers, much of available land seized for

poppy crops, which is ruining the land

No industry, no exports to speak of

Astronomical illiteracy rates

Women in Society
How have things changed/stayed the same since the Taliban
lost power?

Basically, a lot of laws have changed, but attitudes havent

Ex: women can go to school, receive health care, gain

employment, and they dont have to wear burqas. BUTwomen
are still under the control of their husbands, and many still wear
burqas, partly out of fear

Women are in parliament and military

Honour killing still happens

Explore how womens role in society has developed in the last 40

years

40 years ago:

Could wear whatever they wanted

Could go to university, work, etc

Under the Taliban:

Women basically erased from society

Now:

Women are in parliament, the military, in the Olympics and on t.v.

What challenges do modern Afghan women encounter? How are

these similar/different to their mothers?

Still sold into marriage

Still jailed for offences men are not jailed for (adultery, running away)

Again, laws have changed, but women are fighting traditional attitudes

Tribal Relationships and Family

What role do tribes play in Afghan culture? Family?

Tribes provide protection, financial support, a means to resolve disputes

Developed along kinship lines (so youre all related somehow)

On what cultural values does the Pashtunwali code place most

importance?

Pashtunwali = the rules everyone in the tribe has to live by, in

order to maintain honour

Honour, honour, honour

Honour depends upon: hospitality, revenge, women (keeping them in

line), and money

What does it mean to be an outsider in Afghan society? Why are people

excluded? What does this exclusion look like?

Excluded along ethnic and religious lines. Pashtuns on top, Hazaras on the
bottom

People excluded because they look different and believe different things

Looks like: ethnic cleansing, confinement to one part of the country, few legal
rights, barred access to social institutions

How is treatment of Afghan others similar/diferent from other

cultures history of oppression?

Has happened throughout history. Dominant groups seem to always oppress

those they deem unworthy

Holocaust

Russia under Josef Stalin

Rwandan genocide

America: pre civil rights era

Ireland: Catholics vs. Protestants