Timeline of historical events -- The three pillars of Afghanistan : geography, people, and Islam -- Prehistory : the emergence of civilization in ancient Afghanistan -- Early civilization and the nomadic people of Afghanistan -- Afghanistan from Hellenistic culture to the introduction of Islam -- The Mongolian invasion of Afghanistan through the Shah dynasty -- The birth of modern Afghanistan (1747-1826) -- European influence in Afghanistan (1826-1919) -- From the age of reformation to the war with the Soviets (1919-1979) -- The Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan (1979-1989) -- Afghan fundamentalism and the Taliban regime (1989-2001) -- Afghanistan after September 11, 2001 -- The decade to find Osama Bin Laden -- Looking back : the road to democracy in Afghanistan -- The future of Afghanistan -- Notable people in the history of Afghanistan -- Glossary of frequently used terms -- Timeline of rulers of Afghanistan -- Chronological list of recent leaders of Afghanistan.