 Click on the NPR Throughline Logo above to be directed to the podcast: Afghanistan-Center of the World. Day One-PRIMARY BLOG ENTRY-After actively listening to the linked NPR Podcast, please consider these three topics. Select ONE of these three topics to respond to in your Primary blog entry. In this Primary blog entry:
Day Two-SECONDARY BLOG ENTRIES-Scan through all of the Primary Blog Entries and pick TWO (ONE form each of the OTHER two topics). For EACH Secondary Blog Entry you may respond with your choice of the following types of responses:
1. Historical Narratives & Power: This episode explores how Afghanistan has been shaped by both internal and external forces over centuries. How does the way history is told influence our understanding of a place like Afghanistan? Who controls these narratives, and what impact does that have on global perceptions of the country? 2. Geopolitics & Identity: Afghanistan has often been referred to as the "graveyard of empires" due to its strategic location and history of resisting foreign control. How has Afghanistan's geography influenced its role in global politics, and in what ways has this shaped Afghan national identity? 3. Colonialism & Its Legacies: The episode highlights Afghanistan's encounters with colonial and imperial forces, from the British and Soviet invasions to U.S. involvement. How do the long-term effects of these interventions compare to those experienced by other nations with similar histories of foreign interference? What patterns of colonial influence do you see repeating across history? Primary Blog Expectations (respond to the prompt above): 75-100 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name that you were assigned in class as your PEN NAME and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59 pm TONIGHT! Secondary Blog Response Expectations (read everyone's primary responses, select two that interest you, and respond to their ideas): 75-100 words EACH, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. In these replies, you can contribute, agree, disagree, support, elaborate, challenge, clarify, and/or connect. Please use the PEN NAME that you were assigned in class as your PEN NAME and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59 pm on Friday night!
Tenrec
2/6/2025 04:06:46 pm
**Historical Narratives & Power**
pine marten
2/7/2025 12:44:47 am
Historical Narratives & Power: There are normally two sides to a story but most of the time one side is more feasible or most likely to be heard than the other, this is maybe due to the fact that the feasible side may have more power, more influence and is more convincing than the other side. I think history is told similarly. When I think of Afghanistan’s history I think of the Taliban and war and never of the beautiful culture, art or even the people who broke the norm and made history. The history told about Afghanistan only focuses on the worst side making Afghanistan look bad. The countries that invaded Afghanistan have more power and have more influence. They are the ones changing the story lines and making history more beneficial to them, making the real history of Afghanistan unheard of and because of this other countries may view Afghanistan negatively. 2/10/2025 07:46:40 am
I agree, people tend to think about the most recent negative thing that would've occurred in that specific country, and classify the entire country based on that single negative, rather than looking at the countless positive ( if any ) with the country.
Pallas's Cat
2/12/2025 08:11:30 am
I completely agree. Afghanistan has been very very successful and it isn't talked about much now. People view Afghanistan as a negative place, but they had a beautiful and successful life there before all the negatives. People think of the bombing, the war, and politics, but they don't ever focus on the positives, like how beautiful the culture and community is. It shouldn't be that way. Yes it is important for us to know about what is going on in the world, but it makes the place come off negatively and that shouldn't be. 2/10/2025 07:43:52 am
Geopolitics & Identity: The geological location of Afghanistan is important when it comes to being able to defend and attack other foreign countries that have wanted to conquer it in the past for its vast resource and land. I agree with the idea that the Afghanistan location is a very nice one, when it comes to opportunities to obtain income, whilst the strange terrain would allow for them to attack without much struggle. This is due to the fact that whilst the invading countries attack without much knowledge of said terrain. The sand and the vast mountains is a perfect place to kill all that try to invade.
Wild Cat
2/10/2025 07:55:49 am
Historical Narratives & Power: Everytime I hear about Afghanistan I always think about the destruction caused over there and bombings but that's just based on the sad history that is showed and from the audio that was played. Afghanistan is a nice land but it was surrounded by War so the nice land and views were never showed, the war made Afghanistan go from a nice country to a literal warzone that dragged innocent families into it which also made their culture get a bad representation to all who hear about Afghanistan.
Pallas's Cat
2/10/2025 08:15:48 am
I agree, they were very successful for a long time and empires couldn't even reach them because their land was too hard to reach. Since outside empires couldn't reach the Afghans, I think it put a bigger target on them which is why it has turned into the warzone it has. It is saddening because the families and people had to suffer. A beautiful place turned ugly, but not from themselves, from the outside world.
Pallas's Cat
2/10/2025 08:05:47 am
Geopolitics & Identity: Afghanistan’s geography has played a significant role in its history and global political influence. Located at the crossroads of Central and South Asia, its rugged terrain, including mountains and deserts, has made it difficult for foreign powers to maintain control. This challenging landscape has contributed to Afghanistan being known as the “graveyard of empires,” as invaders from Alexander the Great to modern superpowers have struggled to conquer and hold the region. Historically speaking, there has always been this rich successful empire. Although outside empires see it as a “graveyard of empires” because of the money and people they’ve lost, it is very reducting and diminishing to refer to it as the “graveyard of empires” considering the Afghans’ success. The constant resistance to foreign domination has fostered a strong sense of national identity among Afghans, characterized by resilience and a fierce independence. This historical context has shaped Afghanistan’s role in global politics, often positioning it as a key player in regional power dynamics and a critical area of interest for major global powers.
MuGGer
2/10/2025 08:07:13 am
the Historical Narratives & Power show how ones historical can change themselves really fast.I say this because Afghanistan was a place where womens didn't have rights at first then as time change.Afghanistan has a long standing in historste where they have be kings and queens fight for a long time for them this is a show of power and how they fight off all the people who try to take over. because of this when people try to make women have there right people like the Taliban don't want this to and just take the counutiy over.they didn't want to change there way because they think they are the strongest people out there.But the way the world see there historste is no way the same as what Afghanistan see there's.
Torsier
2/10/2025 08:08:51 am
Historical Narratives & Power because in a story there is always two sides. One side would most likely be heard than the other and people will believe that side more because it's more well known and more out there. While the other side is lesser known. And with power we see how things and perceive things and how things can change history or how it's told.
Osprey
2/10/2025 08:12:25 am
what power do they have? out where? what has afghanistan accomplished? go deeper and more in depth and actually explain the question more. squeak squeak squak
Osprey
2/10/2025 08:10:10 am
Geopolitics & Identity: Afghanistan has often been referred to as the "graveyard of empires" due to its strategic location and history of resisting foreign control. How has Afghanistan's geography influenced its role in global politics, and in what ways has this shaped Afghan national identity? only two countries share the title of being Graveyard of Empires Egypt and Afghanistan. Their strategic geographic locations acted as magnets attracting invaders and occupiers throughout history. Afghanistan doggedly fought, resisted, and eventually expelled its invaders, whereas Egypt subtly defeated them by melting, assimilating, and absorbing them into its own superior culture. Afghanistan's role in global politics is a very strong place due to how powerful they are and where they are located in the world winning many disputes for example Taliban officials won a series of diplomatic victories due to how powerful they are and where they stand.
proboscis monkeys
2/10/2025 08:10:31 am
Historical Narratives & Power
Mustela Erminea / Stoat
2/10/2025 08:13:28 am
!! Historical Narratives and Power !!
Araian leopard
2/11/2025 08:02:48 am
The way Afghanistan's history is told influences our understanding of other places like it by usually giving it a negative stand point when we hear Afghanaistan. Dictators typically control the narrative, especially when it comes to wars. When discussing stories people usually listen to the side that makes more sense to their morals and also things like social status. People who are part of the lower spectrum known as lower class, these people are usually not being heard or rarley ever get justice for their losses.
African WIldcat
2/12/2025 07:43:15 am
Afghanistan history tells us some much stuff from other places.Lot of dictators are the ones that share thee stories and their views which are always on the wrong side and always down play the ones that are right.With this also comes fear and also the ideology that their right because they have power or status.When a lower class shares information it is deemed false,but if someone with a higher status says something it is seen as right. Comments are closed.
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