NPR Throughline-Afghanistan: The Center of the World (2021)

2/6/2025

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:

Label your entry with its topic.
Answer the aligned questions in a soild narrative paragraph (word count below).

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:

Agree? Disagree? Why?
Continue the discussion.
Add additional thoughts.

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!

28 Comments

stripped hyena

2/7/2025 01:55:34 pm

Afghanistan being a graveyard of empire is not Afghanistan's fault. The nature of being in the center of trade routes and essentially in the middle of where countries are starting to grow around you trying to build a name for yourself creates an uncontrolled chaotic environment. Afghanistan having dominance over minerals/agriculture doesn't help their situation making other places more hungry to take over. Afghanistan has been handed a script and it has fought to get rid of it by trying to find the identity of what makes their country so special. Trying to find it while simultaneously getting rid of an embedded past culture takes time which is what Afghanistan couldn't get a grasp of which is time. Global Politics don't wait around they try to be first in line which is what put Afghanistan in an impossible situation and hard reality

pallas's cat

2/10/2025 08:51:37 am

I agree with that information

Asiatic Cheetah

2/10/2025 10:19:41 pm

I agree with your point. Afghanistan’s location and resources have made it a target for other countries, causing a lot of problems that were not its fault. The idea that Afghanistan was given a script is very true, much of its history has been controlled by others instead of its own people. The country has tried to find its own identity while dealing with outside interference, which is very difficult. The world moves fast, and Afghanistan was not given enough time to grow in its own way

2/10/2025 07:56:39 am

The way history is told shapes our understanding of Afghanistan by framing its identity and development. Often external powers, foreign governments or international organizations control these narratives, emphasizing certain events and denying others, which can change the global perception of Afghanistan. For example, in western media Afghanistan is portrayed as a place of conflict, instability and terrorism, overshadowing its culture and history. These stories can change how the world views Afghanistan and create stereotypes and misunderstandings. These can impact diplomatic relations and global engagement.

Word count: 84

Sun Bear

2/10/2025 08:56:58 am

I agree! We are told stories about Afghanistan that are only bad. No one ever really tells the good side and what it was before. I think it's important to reflect on present and past

Nile Monitor

2/11/2025 08:02:27 am

I agree because I was one of the people who allowed the media portray what thought Afghanistan was. I always assumed Afghanistan was like a crazy and chaotic country, uneducated on how the country was once before and how important their history (despite the negative side) truly is.

white tailed mongoose

2/11/2025 08:19:42 am

I agree cheetah afghanistan has way more to offer other than just the stereotypical assumptions tied to it, its unfair!

Eurasian Lynx

2/10/2025 08:33:55 am

Geopolitics & Identities

Afghanistan's geographical location is key to their rich history in resisting foreign control. Their location on the map is in the middle of europe and they are located in the middle of the western hemisphere. Nations would always attempt and fail to take their land hence the nickname "Graveyard of Empires". Their geographical location is essential for other countries trade routes and have mass oil control in the middle east. It's hard to get rid of there past identities without any geographical change in their location. LeAfghanistan

Harpy eagle

2/10/2025 09:31:03 am

I agree Afghanistan geographical location affected the country a lot due to other countries trying to invade.

2/11/2025 07:40:58 am

I agree. I believe Afghanistan are very adament about their country because of their land and how much value it has. The land of the western hemisphere usually come with great resources and maybe because that's their home too. No ones just going to want to give up their home especially without a fight.

Ravenous Raven

2/10/2025 08:38:18 am

Afghanistan being the graveyard of empires. Due to its location it makes it hard for empires. Afghanistan refusing control over it's government is important. The location of Afghanistan is in-between Iran, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan. It isn't near water whatsoever. It's what we would call landlocked. To the right of Afghanistan is China. It is located near South Asia and Central Asia. All of the empires that attempted to invade Afghanistan have failed.

2/10/2025 08:46:53 am

yeah I agree, the cheetah said something like that too

2/10/2025 09:35:05 am

I also believe that the place they are located in has a lot to do on why the country "fails" to actually work out.

Red Panda

2/10/2025 11:09:38 am

I agree Afghanistan has a really good location this is the main reason why countries like china,Soviet Union and US have tried to invade but failed.It location can easily facilitate and give a country advantages if they were to go on a war due to the fact the is near main countries.

Wild Boar

2/10/2025 08:41:28 am

Historical Narratives & Power
The historical power of Afghanistan is very important. Afghanistan also served as the source from which the Greco-Bactrians and the Mughals, among others, rose to form major empires. Because of the various conquests and periods in both the Iranian and Indian cultural spheres, the area was a center for Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and later Islam. Afghanistan has played a very important role in our world being what it is today. Many people from this country have been a very key part in America being the place it is today.

2/10/2025 08:51:51 am

The Sun bear said the same thing too

2/10/2025 08:49:04 am

Historical Narratives & Power:
The way history is told influences our understanding of a place like Afghanistan because before all the chaos Afghanistan was a beautiful place. The county was a place to enjoy freedom and travel, it was the ideal place to go if you wanted to go skiing. Anyone is capable of controlling these narratives, but the people with power are the ones who can get the attention of people who can actually tell these stories. Afghanistan is now the country you fear going to, but times weren’t always like that.

Golden Jackal

2/12/2025 07:56:44 am

I completely agree. The people who have the most power are able to push different narratives and people will most likely agree or retain what they say just because of their position. People that listen to those stories won't take the time to look at the real history of this beautiful place because of the fear that they've gained from these different narratives. It’s also unfair to the people in Afghanistan because they know how beautiful their home used to be before all of the chaos.

Pallas's Cat

2/10/2025 08:50:26 am

Historical Narratives & Power: Afghanistan went through many power struggles. The first when they had the Hotaki Dynasty, the battle with monarchy.They finally ended up winning. Then there was the civil war between the civilians and the empire. They lost the first half but ended up victorious near the end. Then the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, they were losing but ultimately came to an agreement. Another one with another Civil war they did lose and was being controlled by USSR and change all ruling.

2/10/2025 08:56:24 am

the history of Afghanistan is not easy to understand. It was a region that gave rise to significant empires, including the Greco-Bactrians and the Mughals. Due to numerous conquests and historical periods within both the Iranian and Indian cultural realms, this area became a hub for Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and eventually Islam.This affects the global perception if the country because it shows how religion controls a lot in that country.

brown bear

2/10/2025 08:57:08 am

Historical Narratives & Power:
Afghanistan has been shaped by both internal & external forces that have affected the way the world has seen the country. I say this because before the violent/closed off reputation that the country has now, it was said to be one of the best places that you could go to. It was rich in culture and attractions that made it like Paris at that time. But eventually there was a switch when a war started and an extremist group came up and promised that if you follow our rules we would stop the war. And the war stopped, as time continued they started to set the rules on the people there, and there were also people who tried to go against it, but ultimately the harsh rules were always there. The way history was told also has a big influence on the perception of Afghanistan, because when you are learning about something that happened in the past you mostly hear about things that went wrong. And I think that this is what has happened with the telling of history in Afghanistan. The people that control these narratives are the school systems that teach about them, and the people who write about it. I think with the school system, it is based on the location and what the curriculum consists of. And the people write just based on the information they heard of/know

2/10/2025 11:05:27 am

I totally agree with you.I also have the same perspective and think the same.People who control narrative have control over Afghanistan and can adjust story in their favor.They only tell the bad side of the story they don´t talk about the positive side of the country.

2/10/2025 09:00:20 am

Historical Narratives & Power:I have always believed that a story has always 2 sides.One is always more favorable to a certain group.I think in this case this is what is going on with Afghanistan countries who have try to invaded are going to tell a side of the story the is going to see more favorable to them.I´have always heard about all the tragic things going on, in Afghanistan war,Taliban group,control of education etc.But people never talk about the positive side about of Afghanistan and how beautiful it culture and land can be.I thins case countries who try to invaded Afghanistan are the ones who connect this narratives and control over everything about how they view Afhanistan.

Harpy Eagle

2/10/2025 09:32:53 am

I totally agree! I also feel like people don't talk enough about how Afghanistan was actually a really progressive country back then.

2/12/2025 08:00:54 am

I agree! The group that has more of a voice will only talk about things that are the most favorable to them and won't give the other party the chance to put out their side because people most likely won't listen. I myself have only heard the negative parts of Afghanistan but after listening, I’ve gotten new information on this place that I didn’t know of. It really is unfair when people will only listen to one side and not the other

2/10/2025 09:28:27 am

Afghanistan geography influenced its role in global politics due to their richness of resources and its location. Afghanistan is located in the border of pakistan and Iran which has an effect on the people living in the country because families were separated, some people that are in Afghanistan have families in Iran and Pakistan and this kind of makes them have different mindsets because people are located in different parts of the boarder. Some patterns of colonial influence that are seen repeating across history are almost always negative, I say this because before Afghanistan was a target for invasion the country was once progressive especially with woman's rights and education but after these colonial invitations the Taliban raised power and their desire to follow Islamic principles this got rid of a lot of women's basic rights like education.

Asiatic cheetah

2/10/2025 10:27:30 pm

I agree with your information. Afghanistan’s location and rich resources have made it important in global politics. Being next to Pakistan and Iran has affected the people, separating families and creating different ways of thinking, this has caused challenges for the country. Afghanistan was once more progressive, especially with women’s rights and education but after outside countries got involved and the Taliban took power, many of those rights were taken away. This shows how outside influence has changed Afghanistan’s history and made life harder for its people.

2/12/2025 07:51:32 am

Historical Natives and Power-

History can push narratives to make beautiful places such as Afghanistan seem like chaotic places. Afghanistan used to be a beautiful place to travel to before everything happened. Now, all people think about when they think of Afghanistan is war, chaos, terrorism, and unfair rules; which is completely unfair. Because we only consider what we hear from history, we never take the time to look deeper into their side and appreciate what they have to offer. We gain this narrative by listening to people like our government, and other foreign places that don't have good relations with Afghanistan.

Word Count: 98

Class Period B Blog

NPR Throughline-Afghanistan: The Center of the World (2021)

Leave a Reply.

Blog Requirements

Blog Rubric

Archives

Categories