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Afghanistan becomes an independent nation
Afghanistan defeats the British "in the Third-British-Afghan War" -
Zahir Shah declares a monarchy and becomes king
Zahir Shah becomes king, thus "[bringing] a semblance of stability" to Afghanistan during his 40 year rule. -
Hassan and Amir are born
Hassan and Amir are born and spend their childhood together.
"[They] took [their] first steps on the same lawn in the same yard." (11) This closeness shows their kinship to one another. The emphasis on how similar Hassan and Amir's relationship is to brotherhood also serves as foreshadowing to events later in the book. -
Mohammed Daoud Khan becomes president
Mohammed Dad Khan forms a military coup and overthrows the last king, "[abolishing] the monarchy and [naming] himself president" -
The kite fighting contest
Amir wins the kite fighting contest, and Hassan goes to run the last kite for him. Assef corners and rapes him in the alley while Amir stands by and does nothing. When Amir sees Hassan's face, he realizes "It was a look [he'd] seen before. It was the look of the [sacrificial] lamb" (76). This metaphor emphasizes Hassan's helplessness. It also highlights how Amir used Hassan in the past and treated him poorly. -
Hassan and Ali leave
Amir frames Hassan for theft in an attempt to get his father to fire him. Ali insists that they leave although Baba forgives him, and Amir realizes "that Hassan had told him. He had told him everything, about what Assef and his friends had done to him..." (106). Amir doesn't try to apologize to Hassan as he leaves. This instance shows his cowardice as he throws away what he thinks is his last chance to atone for what he did. -
Nur Mohammad Taraki becomes president
Former president "Khan is killed in a communist coup. Our Mohammad Taraki...takes control of the country as president." They announce their independence from the Soviet Union. -
Soviet-Afghanistan War starts
"The USSR invades Afghanistan... to bolster the faltering communist regime." Soviet invaders start to invade Afghanistan. -
Amir moves to America
Amir and his father leave Afghanistan for California. Baba doesn't adjust well to life in America. "For [Amir], America was a place to bury [his] memories. For Baba, a place to mourn his" (129). This shows how power has shifted between Amir and Baba after they move to America. Amir is able to escape his guilt, while Baba can't adjust to the sudden loss of power he experiences as an immigrant. -
Baba gets cancer
Baba is diagnosed with cancer, and refuses to go through chemotherapy. Baba tells Amir not to tell anyone, because he doesn't "want anybody's sympathy" (157). Baba has always been a strong figure in Amir's life, and continues to uphold that image as he refuses treatment or sympathy. Amir now has to imagine life without his father, which impacts him heavily. -
Amir gets married
Amir marries Soraya. At his wedding, he wonders if "Hassan too had married" (171). Amir rarely thought about Hassan since he left Afghanistan, but he remembers him on his wedding night. This foreshadows Amir's past actions catching up to him, and him having to atone for them after all these years. -
Baba dies
Baba passes away from cancer. Amir watches the mourners leaving, and realizes "for the first time ever, Baba would be all alone" (176). Baba was an idol in Amir's life, and now he's dead. Amir felt he had to care for Baba and prove himself to him throughout his life, which is why his loss impacts him so heavily. -
Rahim Khan finds Hassan
Rahim Khan goes to Hazarajat to find Hassan. When they reunite, Hassan agrees to move back to Kabul with his family. "Hassan tended to the flowers in the garden...he painted the walls..." (208). Hassan and Rahim Khan returning to Baba's old house serves as a return to the past for the both of them. Hassan still dutifully carries out the tasks he was expected to as a servant, showing how he still carries respect for Baba and his property. It shows how Hassan has stayed loyal all these years. -
Amir gets published
Amir gets his first novel published, and it does very well. Amir remember's Hassan, and how he'd said "[Amir would] be a great writer... and people all over the world [would] read [his] stories" (183). This instance shows Amir remembering Hassan at another significant point in his life. The memory of Hassan's support brings him guilt, which adds to his decision to return to Afghanistan later. -
al-Qaida is formed
Osama bin Laden rallies supporters "to continue their...holy war against the Soviets". Their goal is to turn Afghanistan into a nation ruled by Islam. -
Amir and Soraya consider adoption
Amir and Soraya attempt to have a child, but find out that Soraya is infertile. They consider adoption, but Soraya's father says he isn't "so syre it's for [Afghans]" (187). This causes both Amir and Soraya grief. This grief is a factor that helps push Amir to decide to adopt Sohrab later on. -
Sohrab is born
Hassan's son is born. "It was Sanaubar who delivered Hassan's son that winter..." (211). Amir finding Sohrab was what Rahim Khan meant when he told Amir he could atone. By telling Amir his and Hassan's story, it influences him to find him to atone for his actions. -
Taliban is formed
The Taliban is formed and widely accepted by the Afghans. This is due to them believing the Taliban were "upholding traditional Islamic values." -
Mohammad Najibullah is executed by Taliban
"The Taliban publicly executes Najibullah", who was president at the time. -
Amir finds Sohrab
Amir finds Sohrab and tries to get him back from the Taliban. Amir finds out Assef joined the Taliban, and challenges him to a fight. Sohrab rescues Amir by shooting Assef in the eye with his slingshot. "...Assef was screaming. He put his hand where his left eye had been just a moment ago" (291). Amir initially wanted to save Sohrab to atone for what he did. Now knows they're family, which further pushed his determination to help Hassan's son. -
Sohrab goes to America
Amir brings Sohrab to America. "[He] brought Hassan's son...to America, lifting him from the certainty of turmoil and dropping him in a turmoil of uncertainty" (356). Amir thought once he brought Sohrab to America everything would be fixed, but in reality there are still problems for him. This shows how Amir does his best to make things right, but they won't be completely fixed. -
Rahim Khan calls Amir
Rahim Khan calls Amir, asking him to return to Afghanistan. While they're talking, Amir realizes "He knew about Assef, the kite, the money... he had always known" (192). This motivates Amir to go back. Rahim Khan is telling him he has a chance to make things right, and Amir wants to take the chance to atone. This development shows Amir owning up to his actions, and his newfound willingness to correct his wrongs. -
Hijackers crash planes into the World Trade Centers
"Hijackers commandeer four commercial airplanes and crash them into the World Trade Center Towers in New York." This tragic event would go down in U.S history, known as "9/11". -
Taliban surrenders their hold on Afghanistan
The Taliban surrender their last stronghold, and the Taliban leaders surrender all their territory. This led to the "rule of the Taliban in Afghanistan... [ending]." -
Sohrab learns to kite fight
Amir takes Sohrab to a gathering where people are flying kites. He teaches Sohrab how to cut a kite, and Amir offers to run the kite he'd fought. While Amir chases the kite, he shouts "For you, a thousand times over" (371). By saying this, Amir is promising to Sohrab what Hassan promised him. He left Hassan behind, and he's determined to not do the same to Sohrab. It shows how much Amir has grown as a person throughout the book.
