The Kite Runner (AO3) Flashcards
Who was King Zahir Shah?
King Zahir Shah ruled Afghanistan from the 1930s until he was overthrown in 1973. His monarchy represented a time of relative stability and prosperity in Kabul, which was shown through Amir and Hassan’s childhood.
What was the coup that occured within the novel?
In 1973, Mohammed Daoud Khan orchestrated a bloodless coup that toppled Afghanistan’s monarchy, which had endured for over two centuries.
During this coup, Daoud Khan seized power while his cousin, King Zahir Shah, was away in Italy.
What was the soviet invasion?
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 leads to the rise of the mujahideen resistance and the subsequent civil war.
What is the Taliban reigime?
The rise of the Taliban in the 1990s drastically transforms Afghanistan with a strict interpretation of Islamic law.
This suppresses personal freedoms and imposes harsh restrictions, such as the ban of kite flying.
