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Table of Contents
Afghanistan, officially known as the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in Central Asia and South Asia. It has a population of approximately 31 million people and is the 42nd most populated country in the world. See the fact file below for more information about Afghanistan or alternatively download our comprehensive worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Capital
Kabul
Population
26,813,057 (July 2001 est.)
Area
647,500 sq km, slightly smaller than Texas
Location
A landlocked country located approximately in the center of Asia.
It is bordered by Pakistan in the south and east, Iran in the south and west, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in the north, and China in the far northeast
Government
No functioning central government,
administered by factions
Money
Afghani (AFA)
Climate
Arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Languages
Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism
See the fact file below for more information on Afghanistan or alternatively download our comprehensive worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
History of Afghanistan
- Humans have been living in Afghanistan for over 50,000 years and it is one of the oldest historical and archaeological sites on earth.
- Afghanistan was settled over 9,000 years ago and was closely connected with its northern, eastern, and western neighbors.
- Some people believe that the religion ‘Zoroastrianism’ originated in Afghanistan.
- Alexander the Great arrived in 330 BCE, and in 642 CE Islam was introduced by Arab Muslims.
- By the 11th century, Mahmud Ghazni had Islamized the region and killed off the remaining Hindu rulers who were still there.
- In 1219 AD, Genghis Khan and his Mongol army entered the region.
- In 1747, the kingdom of the Afghans was created.
- Between the 19th and 20th centuries, the British and the Afghans fought in three separate wars, and ended with the Afghans defeat of the British in 1919 and forming an independent monarchy in 1921.
- In 1979, the Soviet Union became embroiled in Afghanistan’s domestic wars, but luckily, Afghanistan had the help of the Americans, along with Pakistan, China, and Iran.
- By 1996 the Soviets left Afghanistan. At this time the Taliban, a fundamentalist political group, took over the capital city of Kabul.
- Prompted by the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, the United States began searching for Osama Bin Laden, who was said to have been hiding in Afghanistan. This prompted an international coalition to remove the Taliban from power.
- In 2004, a new constitution was written in Afghanistan and Hamid Karzai was elected President. In 2014 a new President was elected, named Ashraf Ghani.
- The United States war in Afghanistan ended formally on December 28, 2014, although many NATO troops (led by the U.S) still remain inside Afghanistan in order to train, advise, and help rebuild Afghanistan’s government, economy, and community.
Geography and Climate of Afghanistan
- Afghanistan is a landlocked country with a continental climate that produces harsh winters and hot summers.
- Although Afghanistan has many water sources from rivers, streams, and lakes, nearly two-thirds of its water flows into other countries, so many places in Afghanistan are very dry.
- There are many mountain ranges in Afghanistan, and the country is known to receive several earthquakes yearly.
- Passes between the mountain ranges allow for people to travel to different places, and most people live in the fertile lands between these mountains, where the land is most fertile.
- Some animals that live in Afghanistan include snow leopards, rhesus macaque monkeys, and red flying squirrels. Tigers used to live in Afghanistan, but are now no longer found there. Bears and wolves have been hunted to near extinction as well.
Culture and Economy of Afghanistan
- Afghanistan is made up of many different cultural and ethnic groups.
- Bilingualism is very common in the country, and over 99% of the population are Muslim. There is a small portion of people in the major cities who are Sikhs, Hindu, or Jewish.
- Afghanistan is one of the least developed countries.
- The country is known for producing fine fruits such as pomegranates, apricots, melons, and many others, and is known as the world’s largest producer of opium.
- The construction industry is booming in Afghanistan, and small new companies and factories are slowly generating profits, which provide more jobs for the people and more revenue for the government.
- Afghanistan has plenty of natural gas and crude oil, as well as lithium, copper, gold, and many other rare earth elements.
- Afghan culture places emphasis on personal honor, loyalty, and strong relationships with their tribe.
- In recent years, restrictions on TV programs and entertainment have relaxed, and people can more freely express themselves without fear of punishment or censorship.
- Cricket and football (soccer) are the most popular sports.
Afghanistan Worksheets
This bundle contains 11 ready-to-use Afghanistan Worksheets that are perfect for students who want to learn more about one of the oldest historical and archaeological sites on earth. Did you know? Humans have been living in Afghanistan for over 50,000 years! Learn more fun and interesting facts about Afghanistan with these worksheets.
Download includes the following worksheets
- Afghanistan Facts
- Cuisine in the Middle East
- Afghanistan Crossword
- Historical Timeline
- The War in Afghanistan
- True or False?
- Afghanistan Wordsearch
- Opinion Piece
- Islamic Art
- Unscrambling Activity
- Afghan Proverbs
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the country of Afghanistan achieve independence?
Afghanistan celebrates its independence from British rule on August 19th. The treaty signed in 1919 allowed Afghanistan to have a neutral relationship with Britain.
What does the Afghan flag say?
On January 29, 2002, the government of Afghanistan adopted its current flag. The flag has a modified coat of arms that includes Arabic inscriptions that say “Afghanistan” and “There is no deity but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God.” The coat of arms still includes a mosque, two flags, and sheaves of wheat.
How old is Afghanistan?
Afghanistan has been in a state of transition for most of its history. Around 7000 B.C., people started to live in Afghanistan. In 330 B.C., Alexander the Great conquered Afghanistan and brought the Greek language and culture to the region. The Mongols invaded Afghanistan’s territory in the 13th century.
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Link will appear as Afghanistan Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 28, 2023
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.