Scholars Online Videos feature top scholars answering a specific question in his or her field of expertise. These brief and informative videos are designed to supplement the Choices Program curricula.
Afghanistan's current borders are the result of political maneuvering between empires. Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor is a result of this political maneuvering. The corridor was created in order to prevent the Russian Empire and British India from sharing a common border. While many afghans may decry the notion, Afghanistan has been shaped by foreign influence. The same can be said for almost every other nation on the globe. Almost all borders are determined by some from of political maneuvering. Our borders with Mexico and Canada have been determined through treaties and wars.
As I have learned more about the world, it's been interesting to see how arbitrary national borders can sometimes be. I think we are taught in school to associate "nations" with "nationalism," and although that is generally the case for most industrialized nations (whose citizens generally feel they are "nationals" within their own borders), it is not always true for the rest of the world. We see this in the numerous ethnic disputes in African nations, in the violent Yugoslav wars in Europe, and today with the Kurd uprising in Syria and Iraq- we see ill-defined borders that do not meet the needs of their peoples, nations that do not encompass the same sentiments of nationalism. As a result, we see indifference between these various peoples at best, or open conflict between varying ethnic and ideological groups at worst. Afghanistan as we know it today is not the result of self-determination or a sense of nationalism, but geopolitical jockeying between Russia and the United Kingdom. It is not a nation, but a political buffer.
As a result, Afghanistan does not act as a single nation- it may have a central government, but that government is incredibly weak, and people in remote areas often do not even know of its existence. Afghanistan is a series of small city-states and even more isolated settlements clumped together behind arbitrarily drawn lines, living their lives in much the same manner their ancestors did 1,000 years ago. This has made the mountainous, isolated regions of the nation a haven for terrorists and religious extremism, posing a serious issue in the region that, despite billions of dollars and a decade of fighting, the US has been unable to find a solution for. Divided amongst itself, Afghanistan is a nation in name only, something that the West likes to place on the map because of a dispute between two global powers nearly 2 centuries ago.
People often wonder why Afghanistan is so conflict ridden and point fingers at one thing or another. This video sheds some light on why Afghanistan actually is what it is today. The country did not get to chose its own borders and so cultural groups were thrown together that may not necessarily like to be associated. The modern borders were set up as a buffer zone between the Soviet Union and the British Empire in India and Pakistan, which is why there is one small land strip known as the Wahkan Corridor sticking off of Afghanistan. The border between modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan was set up in the late 1800s in order to stop British troops from invading Afghan territory and prevent the Afghans from assisting Pakistani rebels. This explains why the present borders of Afghanistan exist, but the establishment of these borders doesn’t seem to be very fair to Afghanistan, who were basically forced by imperial powers to comply. Another imperial power that changed Afghanistan was the Persian Empire, hundreds of years ago. The Persian influence is more cultural. Afghanistan’s New Year was adopted from the Persian New Year so they’re celebrated on the same day. Additionally one of the recognized languages in Afghanistan is a dialect of Farsi, which the Persian language. All of this predates any of the influences of Islam, which shows what a hodgepodge of cultures Afghanistan has become. This video briefly touches upon American involvement in the region during the Cold War, which escalated tensions even farther and left behind both Soviet and American influences. The geographical changes that have occurred in the region for centuries has shaped Afghanistan’s history.
This is a great site that lets learners explore open access TV from around the world. https://tvexplorer.live/ Great for developing language skills and exploring different pronunciations from different regions.
"Lack of choice, not desire" is reason for global fertility crisis, say UN in a new report, after a massive new global survey. The Sky News data and forensics team breaks down the key details.
At the Morgan Library in New York, an unfinished manuscript from 1400s France can teach us how Medieval artists crafted their exquisitely detailed works.
This is a free web based app that enables young children to make and share stories together. It’s very colourful and easy to use. The stories can be written(with or without the help of AI) recorded using voice or webcam. Something kids will love.
Restricting the volume of high-emitting vehicles roaming city streets carries many benefits, from clearing the air to quieting the urban din and beyond. Recognition of this simple fact has led to the proliferation of clean air zones, designated regions within a city where vehicles must meet strict pollution standards or pay a fee to operate […]
Hitler invaded much of Europe during World War II, but one country remained untouched—Switzerland. Discover the military strategy, geography, and defensive preparations that made invading Switzerland a risky decision. This short explains one of the most fascinating stories from WWII history. #worldwar2 #hitler #militaryhistory #war #historyfacts #warstories #shorts
Passenger Seat is a friendly travel companion for the car. As you drive, it tells you about the history, landmarks, and towns you would otherwise pass right by, hands free.
Learn how to create history reconstructions here: beacons.ai/majesticaistudio
From a small collection of villages on the banks of the Tiber to the greatest empire the ancient world had ever seen — and then the long, extraordinary unravelling of it all. In 44 minutes, we cover the full sweep of Roman history: the founding myths, the Republic, the brutal beauty of the Roman army, the assassination of Caesar, the rise of Augustus, the emperors who built it and the emperors who nearly destroyed it, the gladiators, the aqueducts, the roads that still exist today, and the slow collapse of a civilisation that shaped virtually everything about the world we live in. This is Rome — all of it — told the way it deserves to be told.
The Persian Qanat: Ancient Desert Engineering. Discover the incredible engineering feat of the Persian Qanat, an ancient system dating back 3,000 years. These remarkable tunnels, found in the deserts of Iran, have provided a reliable water supply for centuries. Learn about the meticulous construction process, the annual maintenance required, and how this technology spread across the world through trade and conquest.
When William of Normandy invaded England in 1066, it began a transformation of the Old English language. The Norman conquerors replaced the Anglo-Saxon ruling class, bringing with them their Anglo-Norman language, which was based on Old French. Over time, the two languages blended. Old English grammar became simpler, and the English vocabulary expanded with the addition of French words. The result was a new stage of the English language: Middle English, spoken around 1100 to 1500. During this time, Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales, one of the most famous examples of Middle English literature. Chaucer’s writing — and the English language in general — was not uniform at this time. Spellings varied and were often phonetic, and pronunciation differed by region; Chaucer often used whichever version of a word fit his rhyme. There were some differences between the Middle English alphabet and our ...Read More
Amid warnings from the WTO that world merchandise trade could slip into outright decline this year and with Red‑Sea shipping lanes still only partly restore…
What we’re showing This chart shows annual births per 1,000 people across the world’s six most populous countries, based on UN data. Key takeaway Birth…
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Afghanistan's current borders are the result of political maneuvering between empires. Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor is a result of this political maneuvering. The corridor was created in order to prevent the Russian Empire and British India from sharing a common border. While many afghans may decry the notion, Afghanistan has been shaped by foreign influence. The same can be said for almost every other nation on the globe. Almost all borders are determined by some from of political maneuvering. Our borders with Mexico and Canada have been determined through treaties and wars.
As I have learned more about the world, it's been interesting to see how arbitrary national borders can sometimes be. I think we are taught in school to associate "nations" with "nationalism," and although that is generally the case for most industrialized nations (whose citizens generally feel they are "nationals" within their own borders), it is not always true for the rest of the world. We see this in the numerous ethnic disputes in African nations, in the violent Yugoslav wars in Europe, and today with the Kurd uprising in Syria and Iraq- we see ill-defined borders that do not meet the needs of their peoples, nations that do not encompass the same sentiments of nationalism. As a result, we see indifference between these various peoples at best, or open conflict between varying ethnic and ideological groups at worst. Afghanistan as we know it today is not the result of self-determination or a sense of nationalism, but geopolitical jockeying between Russia and the United Kingdom. It is not a nation, but a political buffer.
As a result, Afghanistan does not act as a single nation- it may have a central government, but that government is incredibly weak, and people in remote areas often do not even know of its existence. Afghanistan is a series of small city-states and even more isolated settlements clumped together behind arbitrarily drawn lines, living their lives in much the same manner their ancestors did 1,000 years ago. This has made the mountainous, isolated regions of the nation a haven for terrorists and religious extremism, posing a serious issue in the region that, despite billions of dollars and a decade of fighting, the US has been unable to find a solution for. Divided amongst itself, Afghanistan is a nation in name only, something that the West likes to place on the map because of a dispute between two global powers nearly 2 centuries ago.