Background information Flashcards
What is a coup d’etat?
A coup d’état also known simply as a coup, a putsch golpe de estado, or an overthrow, is a type of revolution, where the illegal and overt seizure of a state by the military or other elites within the state apparatus occurs.
Who are the Hazaras?
the Hazaras are one of Afghanistan’s largest ethnic minorities, accounting for up to 20 percent of Afghanistan’s 30 million inhabitants.
Their Asiatic features and language - a dialect of Persian - set them apart from other Afghans, including the predominant ethnic Pashtun. While the Hazaras are primarily Shia Muslims, most Afghans follow the Sunni branch of Islam.
Who are Hazara’s said to be the descendants of?
The Hazaras are said to be descendants of Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol empire, and the Mongol soldiers who swept through the region in the 13th century.
Who are the Pashtuns?
Pashtun, also called Pushtan, Paktun or Pathan, are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan. They live mainly in the south and the east of the country. Pashtuns are Sunni Muslims.
Who was Zahir Shah?
Mohammed Zahir Shah was the last King of Afghanistan, reigning from 8 November 1933 until he was deposed on 17 July 1973. He established friendly relations with many countries, including with both Cold War sides, and modernized the country from the 1950s. His long reign was marked by peace and stability that was lost afterwards.
When was Zahir Shah deposed and by who?
Zahir Shah was overthrown in a surprise coup in 1973 by his cousin and former prime minister, Mohammed Daoud Khan, who established a republic.
When was the Soviet Afghanistan War?
December 24, 1979 - February 15, 1989
Who faught in the Soviet Afghanistan War?
The Soviet Afghanistan War was fought between Afghanistan rebels called the Mujahideen and the Soviet supported Afghanistan government. The United States supported the Afghanistan rebels in order to try and overthrow the communist government and to prevent the spread of communism.
What were the causes of the war?
As one of its bordering neighbors, the Soviet Union had a long history of supporting and providing aid to Afghanistan. On April 27, 1978 a Soviet supported communist government took over the country. The new government was called the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA).
Many of the Afghanistan people did not like the new communist government, primarily because many of the laws went against their Muslim religion. They began to rebel against the current government. The rebels called themselves the Mujahideen.
In September of 1979, events in Afghanistan became more unstable when Afghan leader Hafizullah Amin had the current president killed and took control of the communist government.
Who were the Mujahideen?
They were the rebels who didn’t like the communist government of Afghanistan as they felt it went against their religion.
Why did the Soviets struggle in Afghanistan?
Many of the Soviet soldiers were untested in battle and their gear was not designed for the harsh environment of Afghanistan. Also, the Mujahideen soldiers were fighting for their homeland and their religion. They were fierce fighters and had many good places to hide in the mountains.
What is Farsi?
the modern Persian language, the official language of Iran, with over 20 million speakers.
What is Persia?
Both Persia and Iran are used interchangeably in cultural contexts; however, Iran is the name used officially in political contexts.
“Persia” was the official name of Iran in the Western world prior to 1935 when the country and vast surrounding lands were known as Persia (derived from the ancient kingdom of Parsa and the Persian empire).
Modern Iran is comprised of a large number of different ethnic and tribal groups. People who identify as Persian account for the majority, but there are also large numbers of Azeri, Gilaki and Kurdish people, too. While all are citizens of Iran are Iranians, only some can identify their lineage in Persia.
Who was Henry Kissinger?
Served as the United States Secretary of State and National Security Advisor under the presidential administrations of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford in the 1970s.
What does Watan mean?
Al-Watan means ‘national’ in Arabic and in Persian
