Ancient Origins and Myths of AFGHANISTAN

A brief look at the ancient origins, history, and myths of the region of modern day Afghanistan. The region is extremely complex and with a very eventful history so this is very generalized. It also doesn't necessarily reflect the origins of all ethnic groups in modern Afghanistan, but primarily the Pashtuns, Tajiks and other Iranian peoples in the region.

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[wisperingbeard]

I was a cold war baby, born in Kabul in '79. My mother was pregnant with me as the government collapsed and fell to the communist insurgents. My earliest memories are of New Jersey, where i grew up. Suffice it to say, the history of Afghanistan was not a part of the school curriculum. So this video isn't just a source of fascination for me, it's a revelatory glimpse into my own ancestral history. For that, I thank you.

[AdSd]

Thank you for covering this topic and thanks to all European scholars who pioneered the study of Persian history and archaeology. As a Persian, Afghanistan will always have a special place in my heart.

[jameswells]

Some of the most beautiful terrain, and people I have ever seen and interacted with were in Afghanistan. It's a pity and crying shame what's happened to it. A land where windmills were used for irrigation centuries before Europe had them; the Breadbasket of the Ancient where lapis lazuli, emeralds, rubies, and opals can still be found in the Rivers covered in forests, Valleys full of orchards and cultivated fields reduced to ashes the People reduced to poverty and infighting over scraps. The entire World should weep and feel ashamed for what we have done, and that includes the People of Afghanistan.

[zainmudassir]

Afghanistan is a fascinating place with ancient history. Hope a new golden age comes to its people.

[noahtylerpritchett]

I love Afghanistan
And all its cultures. Pashtun, Baloch, Tajik, Uzbek, Turkmen, Hazara and all other people in Afghanistan alike. Their cultures and histories are awesome.

[Survivethejive]

Thanks for the shout-out. An excellent video with lots to consider. Iranic myths are a rich resource

[DamienZshadow]

Not only do you have an extensive knowledge of the subject but you understand it and discuss it through the context of numerous cultural and religious influences without much bias against anyone in particular. I am absolutely enthralled by your approach and breath of wisdom.

[darkmatter]

A better way to explain “STAN”, (as in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan), is that ”Stan” means “LAND”, as in “land of”, just like in European countries where for example the “Land of the English” becomes “EngLAND”. And so it goes for the rest of the European countries as it does for the “stans”:

EngLAND
ScotLAND
IceLAND
IreLAND
HolLAND
DeutschLAND
PoLAND
SwitzerLAND

Here’s a fun exercise - swapping “Stan” for “land”, the names then become:

Afghanland
Kazakhland
Kyrgyzland
Pakiland
Tajikland
Turkmenland
Uzbekland

Swapping “land” for “stan”, the names become:

Englishstan
Scottishstan
Icestan
Irishstan
Hollistan
Germanstan
Polishstan
Switzerstan

[zotirruges]

One of the most beautiful places I've ever been to. Even being there during the war, all the bad shit that happened. I still find myself missing its beauty, seeing the mountains and amazing colors in the sky I've never seen anywhere else before.

[iiiiafgiiii]

I'm an Afghan, My father is a Pashtun and my mother is a Tajik Afghan. I did a DNA test and my results are
West Asian - 33.9% =Turkey/Iran
South Asian - 28.1% = India
Central Asian - 22.5% = Afghanistan/Tajikistan
Scandinavian -12.5% = Norway/Sweden
Native American -1.5% = America
Middle Eastern - 1.5 % = Arab

=

[Survivethejive]

Interesting that in medieval Europe it was believed Muhammad was cut in two in hell. He is depicted this way in manuscripts of Dante's inferno

[majidbineshgar]

Very interesting indeed, since there are so many videos discussing about the politics of Afganistan but seldom dealing with the genetics-linguistics origins of Afghan people and surrounding region .

[amethyst]

This was what I was looking for in a channel. I can count a handful that I can count as "educational."

[snakesghost]

I am a full blooded Iranian that was born in the US. I loved this video so much, you did a great job man ! I just subscribed.

[simonbroberg]

When this man says "Some of this is going to surprise you" He is not wrong! I have done some research onto Norse history and was brought up on the Sagas, but a lot of this did surprise me, I know it is well researched, as he has (or they have) mentioned names I know well enough . Well worth a watch. Think I'll watch it more than once as there is much to ponder on

[nordkrom]

One of the best channels left on youtube !

[qaimaqyakh]

If you didn't know there's a village in the most western part of Badakhshan province in Afghanistan named Ragh e Zardesht, literally Ragh of Zoroaster. It's inside Raghistan district, I find it interesting since some traditions say he was born in a city named Ragh that exactly corresponds to this city.

There's also an Alborz mountain in northern Afghanistan near to Mazar I Sharif city (in Balkh province which is near the ancient capital city of Bactria). What I like to think is that Zoroaster was born in that Ragh city in eastern Bactria (modern day Ragh in western Badakhshan, Afghanistan) and died near Bactra/Balkh where Zoroastrianism likely developed, at Mazar I Sharif, hence why the mausoleum there. The theory of Zoroaster being buried there is very plausible.

[Khusrow.travels]

As someone who has been living in Afghanistan as long as I can recall my ancestry. I am extremely thankful for your kind efforts on this subject. These days we are forgetting by our fellow European brothers.

[MK-yjpn]

Some more facts about history of Afghanistan. In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, two of the prominent places mentioned are Kamboj and Gandhara. The name Kandahar is believed to be derived from Gandhar, although the region Mahabharata is referring to seems to be further north. Kamboj is in northern parts of Afghanistan. The word for majority Afghan ethnics is Pakhtoon, which is derived from one of the ancient Hindu tribes called Pakhta. Hindu culture in Afghanistan reached it's best under Hindushahi dynasty, which finally collapsed in early 11th century and with that the Vedic element in Afghan culture declined rapidly. Immediately began waves of Islamic invasions from Afghanistan into India, which led to a whole branch of history of medieval India. Also, a very impressive sculpture artform developed in Afghanistan called the Gandhara school of art, it had beautiful fusion of Hindu and Greek art, but it completely vanished when both Greek and Hindu culture started disappearing from the region. The ancient Taxila univercity is right next to northern Afghanistan, which indicates that a lot of Afghan people must've been studying there. Afghanistan was glorious with all sorts of cultures, religions and art, to see what it is today makes me sad. No Buddhists, no Jains, not even a hundred Hindus, not even a hundred Sikhs, almost all art is dead there. It is borderline unbelievable, because although the Greek link was lost long ago, India was in cultural contact with Afghanistan up until creation of Pakistan in 1947. But Taliban has finally wiped out whatever shared culture remained.

[SaberScorpion]

Don't know if it's related, but the chaining of the evil god beneath the mountain also sounds very reminiscent of Zeus trapping Typhon beneath Mount Etna in Greek mythology. Typhon was also the father of many other monsters, his struggles created quakes and eruptions, etc.