Part II (652 - 1747)
652 AD

Arabs introduce Islam

962-1030

Islamic era established with the Ghaznavid Dynasty (962-1140)
Afghanistan becomes the center of Islamic power and civilization.
Ibn Sina (Afghan scientist) is born in Balkh (980)
1030--

Mahmud Ghazni dies.
Conflicts between various Ghaznavid rulers arise and as a result the empire starts to crumple.
1140--

Ghorid leaders from central Afghanistan capture and burn Ghazni, then move on to conquer India.

1219-1221 --

Invasion of Afghanistan by Genghis Khan
Destruction of Irrigation systems by Genghis Khan, which turned fertile soil into permanent deserts.
1273

Marco Polo crossed Afghan Turkistan

1332-1370

Descendants of earlier Ghorid rulers reassert control over Afghanistan.

1370-1404

The rule of Timour-i-Lang (Tamerlane)
Afghan resistance
1451--

An Afghan named Buhlul invades Delhi, and seizes the throne. He finds the Lodi dynasty.

1504-1519

Babur, founder of the Moghul dynasty takes control of Kabul

1520-1579

Bayazid Roshan (Afghan intellectual) revolts against the power of the Moghul government. Roshan was killed in a battle with
the Moghuls in 1579--but his struggle for independence continued.

1613-1689

Khushhal Khan Khattak (Afghan warrior-poet) initiates a national uprising against the foreign Moghul government.

1708

Mir Wais (forerunner of Afghan independence) makes Kandahar independent of Safavid Persia that had ruled it since 1622.

1715--

Mir Wais dies peacefully, and lies in a mausoleum outside of Kandahar.

1722--

Mir Wais' son, Mir Mahmud, invades Persia and occupies Isfahan. At the same time, the Durranis revolt, and terminate the Persian
occupation of Herat.

1725--

(April 25)--Mir Mahmud is mysteriously killed after going mad.
Afghans start to lose control of Persia.
1736--

Nadir Shah (head of Persia) occupies southwest Afghanistan, and southeast Persia.

1738--

Nadir Shah takes Kandahar.

1747--

Nadir Shah is assassinated, and the Afghans rise once again. Afghans, under the leadership of Ahmad Shah Abdali retake Kandahar,
and establish modern Afghanistan.