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Baba was Born
In 1933, Baba was born into a "wealthy family in Kabul." Zahir Shah began his four-year rule of Afghanistan. -
Zahir Shah Becomes King
In 1933, Zahir Shah becomes king and reigns for the next 40 years. Zahir Shah brings “stability to the country.” -
Hassan Fights off Assef with Slingshot
While Amir and Hassan are being threatened by Assef, Hassan points his slingshot at Assef with confidence, "convinced him of the seriousness of Hassan's intentions, because he lowered his fist." -
Daoud Khan Overthrows Last King
Daoud Khan overthrows the last king, "Mohammed Zahir Shah, in a military coup." He later names himself president of Afghanistan. Afghanistan now has, "firm ties to the USSR." -
Baba Gets a Doctor for Harelip Surgery for Hassan
Baba grants Hassan a gift of getting is harelip removed. At this time, there is foreshadowing that something may happen to Hassan when he says, "By the following winter, it was only a faint scar. Which was ironic. Because that was the winter Hassan stopped smiling" (47). -
Daoud Khan Cracks Down on Opponents
Daoud Khan gets strict on his opponents, and, "forcing many suspected of not supporting Khan out of the government." -
Hassan Gets Raped
After Hassan gets Amir's kite, Assef and his friends trap Hassan in an alley and Assef, " postions himself behind Hassan," and rapes him (75). -
Amir and Baba Escape in Fuel Truck
Amir and Baba make the rough ride to Pakistan in a fuel truck with a big group of passengers. The trip was excruciating, "Kamal's lifeless body lay on his father's lap" shortly after this, "Kamal's father shoved the barrel up in his own mouth" and killed himself (124). -
Baba Has Seizure In Flea Market
After Baba is diagnosed with cancer, he has a seizure while selling a lamp. Amir runs over to him and realizes, "He was frothing at the mouth, the foaming spittle soaking his beard. His upturned eyes showed nothing but white" (158). -
Afghans Fled From War To Pakistan Or Iran
As the war escalated, "some 2.8 million Afghans have fled from war." Along with that, "Afghan guerrillas gain control of rural areas." -
Amir Graduates From High School in America
In 1983, Amir finally graduates at high school. Baba gives Amir a car as a graduation gift and Amir, " [He takes] the keys, stunned. [He looks] from him to the car" (133). -
Ali Dies When He Steps On Land Mine
When Rahim Khan visits Hassan he learns that Ali has passed away. Rahim Khan figures out, "Ali had died in a land mine" (20. -
Rahim Khan Finds Hassan
Rahim Khan decides to find Hassan because he gets lonely. When he saw Hassan for the first time in many years, Rahim Khan had to, "make him stop kissing [his] hands" because he was so happy to see him (205). -
Hassan and Fazana are Shot By Taliban
Hassan was protesting against the Taliban to let them stay in Baba's old house. The Taliban tell him to kneel and "[shoot] him in the back of the head" (219). -
Osama bin Ladin Hides In Afghanistan
Bin Ladin is suspected to be hiding in Afghanistan during this time. He was, "cultivating thousands of followers in terrorist trading camps." Along with that, "The United Nations punishes Afghanistan with sanctions restricting trade and economic development." -
Amir Finds Out That Hassan Is His Half Brother
While visiting Rahim Khan before he passes away, Amir is told that he and Hassan are half brothers. Amir is furious and shouts, "I'm thirty-eight years old and I've just found out my whole life is one big fucking lie!" (223). -
Sohrab Finally Smiles
When Amir and Sohrab move to America, Sohrab is completely silent. But while flying a kite with Amir, Sohrab, "one corner of his mouth had curled up just so. A smile" (370).
