What does Afghanistan mean in history?

land of the Afghans Aśvakan literally means horsemen, horse breeders, or cavalrymen (from aśva or aspa, the Sanskrit and Avestan words for horse). Historically, the ethnonym Afghān was used to refer to ethnic Pashtuns. Therefore, Afghanistan translates to land of the Afghans, or land of the Pashtuns in a historical sense.

How old is the history of Afghanistan?

The Pre-Islamic Period: Archaeological evidence indicates that urban civilization began in the region occupied by modern Afghanistan between 3000 and 2000 B.C. The first historical documents date from the early part of the Iranian Achaemenian Dynasty, which controlled the region from 550 B.C. until 331 B.C. Between 330

Who named Afghanistan?

The name Afghanistan is described by the 16th century Mughal Emperor Babur in his memoirs as well as by the later Persian scholar Firishta and Baburs descendants, referring to the traditional ethnic Pashtun territories between the Hindu Kush mountains and the Indus River.

What was Afghanistan old name?

In the Middle Ages, up to the 18th century, the region was known as Khorāsān. Several important centers of Khorāsān are thus located in modern Afghanistan, such as Balkh, Herat, Ghazni and Kabul.

Who was Afghanistan colonized by?

Great Britain When the 26-year-old Amanullah ascended the Kabul throne in February 1919, Great Britain retained control over Afghanistans foreign affairs, rendering the country a British protectorate.

Where did the Afghans originate from?

Ancestors of many of todays Turkic-speaking Afghans settled in the Hindu Kush area and began to assimilate much of the culture and language of the Pashtun tribes already present there.

What was the religion of Afghanistan before Islam?

Before the arrival of Islam in the 7th century, there were a number of religions practiced in ancient Afghanistan, including Zoroastrianism, Surya worship, Paganism, Hinduism and Buddhism. The Kaffirstan region, in the Hindu Kush, was not converted until the 19th century.