Feb 11, 2011 most histories of nineteenthcentury afghanistan argue that the country remained immune to the colonialism emanating from british india because, militarily, afghan defenders were successful in keeping out british imperial invaders. British military history score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Learn more about the british empire in this article. However, despite these military victories, colonial influences still made their way into afghanistan. The conclusive engagement of the first afghan war was largely a war of retribution for the massacre of elphinstones army. Most histories of nineteenthcentury afghanistan argue that the country remained immune to the colonialism emanating from british india because, militarily, afghan defenders were successful in. Not on a specific battle but worth reading about the main force which was in the vanguard for imperial expansion and maintenance.
British india and afghanistan, a pictorial history 18391947. A book history of an account of the kingdom of caubul, in mountstuart elphinstone in south asia. This book offers an institutional history of the british legation in kabul, established in response to the independence of afghanistan in 1919. British colonial policy in the twentieth century 1st. To understand afghan society, read before taliban and heroes of the age by david. British claims to defend the kurds was a matter of oil interests, not an authentic commitment to their rights. I picked up this delightful tome at a secondhand bookstore in calgary, canada. In 1878 the british invaded and held most of afghanistan in the second angloafghan war. The british soon learned how fiercely the afghans could fight against foreign. What this book does is provided in mostly easy to read format but not by talking down a history of afghanistan since its development during the british colonial period. See more ideas about british colonial, colonial india and history.
This book offers diverse and original perspectives on south asias imperial military history. Lee uses his command of persian, an abundance of british and american archival sources, and a critical historiographical approach to provide readers with a refreshingly original treatment of afghanistans modern political history. William dalrymples top 10 books on afghanistan books. History page major general afghanistan war british colonial british army military history troops battle images battle of kabul, augustoctober 1842. British military history score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. At stake was the preservation of india, key to the wealth of the british empire. B efore we look at your five book choices, for the uninitiated, can you describe when the british empire was at its height. Can anyone suggest books about british colonial battles or. This book would be compulsive reading even if it were not a uniquely. Between the 1830s and the 1910s, britain and afghanistan fought three wars as the british tried to control afghanistan. Jan 28, 2020 the very idea of the british rajthe british rule over indiaseems inexplicable today. It originated with the overseas possessions and trading posts established by england between the late 16th and early 18th centuries.
This book offers an institutional history of the british legation in kabul, established in response to the. There are several books that are excellent in covering different aspects of afghanistans history. Britain in afghanistan victorian history of britain. One of the earliest eruptions in this epic struggle was the first angloafghan war, which had its beginning in the late 1830s. Elkins had come to prominence in 2005 with a book that exhumed one of the nastiest chapters of british imperial history. New book recalls british empires attempt to intervene in afghanistan.
A major contribution to the historiography of southwest asia and of the british empire. In this powerful and passionate critique of the war on terror in afghanistan and its extensions into palestine and iraq, derek gregory traces the long history of british and american involvements in the. In dalrymples usual happy style of historical narrative, applied to a fascinating. The region of afghanistan has for much of history been part of the persian empire. May 05, 2009 in previous posts on the lede, weve mentioned that pakistan and the rest of the world believes that afghanistan ends and pakistan begins more or less where a 1,600mile line was drawn on the world map in 1893, at the direction of a british colonial officer named henry mortimer durand, who sought to define the outer edge of what was then. I n this thoroughly researched and sharply intelligent analysis, corinne fowler is concerned with understanding the cultural forces that have shaped british ideas about afghanistan in the hope that. List of books and articles about afghan history online.
The best books on the british empire five books expert. In the spring of 1839, the british invaded afghanistan for the first time. Anglo afghan war, and an important parable of colonial ambition and cultural collision. Considering its very ancient history, afghanistanor khurasan, as the. Also, by 1850, india had a population of at least 200 million. But then kim is a very odd book weaving together buddhism and espionage, the colourful life. See more ideas about afghanistan, history and british colonial. Although the book focuses more on the history of various wars fought over. The battle for afghanistan, written by the scottish historian william dalrymple. Cambridge imperial and postcolonial studies series. Imposing british colonial control on iraq in the 1920s 1998 in this brief excerpt from his book colonial empires and armies 1815 1960, v. The contrast between the title and contents of the book, however, do reveal the ways in which history shapes most notions of south asia we use today, and why that category remains, despite many relevant objections, impossible to separate from notions of british india. And, for those of you who are interested in the stable parts of afghan history, the so called golden era, particularly the 1960s, i invite you to read louis duprees book afghanistan, which is a very.
Farrell was chosen to write the armys classified history of the afghan war. After difficult travel through the mountain passes, the british reached kabul in april 1839. Waltz in a white dress 19901995, a japanese manga series set in the 1930s, depicts the british empires antagonistic. Second, loyns discussion of the british empires engagement with afghanistan in the. One of the great pleasures of writing my new book, return of a king. Made up of modern works, it covers english and british history from the medieval period to the early. Top 10 books about the british in india books the guardian. In 1880 abdur rahman, a durrani, began a 21year reign that saw the balancing of british and russian interests, the consolidation of the afghan tribes, and the reorganization of civil. Fraser of africa was a strip in the eagle in 19601961, following the adventures of a white hunter in colonial tanganyika. In 1880 abdur rahman, a durrani, began a 21year reign that saw the balancing of british and russian interests, the consolidation of the afghan tribes, and the reorganization of civil administration into. The very idea of the british rajthe british rule over indiaseems inexplicable today. Since that first of a series of traumatic defeats for british colonial incursions into this complex region, the relation between britain and afghanistan has been one of troubled fascination on the part of the british in a culture imagined as essentially static, unchanging and exotic. The colonial present traces the connections between political, military, and economic power the grand strategies of geopolitics and the spatial stories told by the lives of ordinary people. The parallels between the disastrous british occupation of afghanistan in.
The essay uses colonial archival materials from the archives of the punjab province in lahore to address the thirtyyear period between the two reigns of the durrani afghan monarch shah shuja r. They marched unopposed into the afghan capital city. Uncovering the brutal truth about the british empire. Whats the best history book about great britain as well. The british wanted to conquer afghanistan to prevent the russians from invading southward through the mountainous regions into british india. And, for those of you who are interested in the stable parts of afghan history, the so called golden era, particularly the 1960s, i invite you to read louis duprees book afghanistan, which is a very comprehensive description of the afghan state and afghan society at the time prior to the outset of conflict. During the 19th century, britain, looking to protect its indian empire from russia, attempted to annex afghanistan, resulting in a series of british afghan wars 183842, 187880, 191921. Consider the fact that indian written history stretches back almost 4,000 years, to the civilization. The wolf of kabul, a british spy in the northwest frontier province, who appeared in story papers and comics from 1930 to the mid1980s. The 100 best english and british history books provides a reading list for those serious about history. See more ideas about war, british army and military history. Not really, the british occupied afghanistan 3 separate times but they couldnt keep a hold on it. This impressive book results from lees professional lifetimes work in afghanistan. Egerton discusses british policies in her territories, as well as trials and.
Angloafghan war, and an important parable of colonial ambition and cultural collision. Shah shujas hidden history and its implications for the. Abdur rahmans son habibullah ruled 190119 continued his fathers. Egerton discusses british policies in her territories, as well as trials and tribulations that faced the. Made up of modern works, it covers english and british history from the medieval period to the early modern and modern period. The book contextualises this diplomatic mission in the wider remit of angloafghan relations and diplomacy from the nineteenth to the twentyfirst century. On secret service in high asia is a book on the history of the region by peter. The british empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the united kingdom and its predecessor states. Egerton discusses british policies in her territories, as well as trials and tribulations that faced the british empires influence at the dawn of the twentieth century. Apr 06, 2020 british empire, a worldwide system of dependenciescolonies, protectorates, and other territoriesthat over a span of some three centuries was brought under the sovereignty of the crown of great britain and the administration of the british government. Published in 1922, this book provides a history of the era as well as making reference to britains colonial past. The general focus is commerce, mainly how local actors including. Aug 30, 2017 the true story of the kohinoor diamondand why the british wont give it back a star of londons crown jewels, the indian gem has a bloody history of colonial conquest.
British empire, a worldwide system of dependencies colonies, protectorates, and other territoriesthat over a span of some three centuries was brought under the sovereignty of the crown. In previous posts on the lede, weve mentioned that pakistan and the rest of the world believes that afghanistan ends and pakistan begins more or less where a 1,600mile line was drawn. The book contextualises this diplomatic mission in the wider. Henry jackson society and a strong supporter of the british empire. In fact, during the last half of the 19th century the heyday of british. Initially, the british successfully intervened in a succession dispute between emir dost mohammad barakzai and former emir shah shujah durrani, whom they. Jan 01, 2003 what this book does is provided in mostly easy to read format but not by talking down a history of afghanistan since its development during the british colonial period. From time to time it has been linked with the northern plains of india, as under the kushan dynasty of the 2nd century ad. At its height, it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the. The historical literature on afghanistan and the various armed conflicts fought on. William dalrymples top 10 books on afghanistan books the.
Colonization is not occupation, colonization is a whole different ball game. Book description published in 1922, this book provides a history of the era as well as making reference to britains colonial past. The true story of the kohinoor diamondand why the british. The british resolved to invade afghanistan, and the army of the indus, a formidable force of more than 20,000 british and indian troops, set off from india for afghanistan in late 1838. Amir abdur rahman was emir of afghanistan from 1880 to 1901. Military art military history uk history age of empires afghanistan war world war one british colonial british army warfare what others are saying gurkhas and highlanders repel an attack by afghan. This book would be compulsive reading even if it were not a uniquely valuable. While the i had a motive for reading this book, sad to say, other than current events. Following a protracted civil war that began in 1816, the barakzay clan became the ruling. A new book examines that history and some of the similarities.
Afghanistan and the coloniality of diplomacy the british. From time to time it has been linked with the northern plains of india, as under the kushan. During the 19th century, britain, looking to protect its indian empire from russia, attempted to annex afghanistan, resulting in a series of britishafghan wars 183842, 187880, 191921. Looking closely at commerce in and between kabul, peshawar.
The history professor tells us why its less interesting to argue about whether the empire was a force for good or ill, than to understand how it worked and why it fell apart. Pioneer of british colonial rule, shah mahmoud hanifi, ed. Mar 27, 20 one of the great pleasures of writing my new book, return of a king. Afghanistan has been a strategic prize for foreign empires for more than 200. Military art military history uk history age of empires afghanistan war world war one british colonial british army warfare what others are saying gurkhas and highlanders repel an attack by afghan tribesmen during the kandahar march general roberts march to kandahar and the battle of baba wali, 1880 second afghan war. The first angloafghan war also known by the british as the disaster in afghanistan was fought between the british east india company and the emirate of afghanistan from 1839 to 1842. Yet it is an odd choice, this rambling story about an irish vagabond orphan who is taken up by the british secret service and conscripted into the great game of repelling russian influence in the himalayas. Its not the broadest bookit focuses on india, brazil, and china, and isnt just about british colonialism especially when it is discussing things other than india, but is still a hugely valuable perspective.
British concern over russian advances in central asia and growing influence in west asia and persia in particular culminated in two angloafghan wars and the siege of herat 18371838, in which the persians, trying to retake afghanistan and throw out the british, sent armies into the country and fought the british mostly around and in the. In this powerful and passionate critique of the war on terror in afghanistan and its extensions into palestine and iraq, derek gregory traces the long history of british and american involvements in the middle east and shows how colonial power continues to cast long shadows over our own present. The written recor ded hist ory of the land presently constit uting afghan istan can be traced back to around 500 bce when the area was unde r the acha emenid. Not on a specific battle but worth reading about the main force which was in the vanguard for imperial. Culture, conflict and the military in colonial south asia. British historian peter sluglett writes about how the british colonial boundary of northern iraq and the inclusion of the kurds in the new state was inseparabe from the issue of oil. Lee uses his command of persian, an abundance of british and american archival sources, and a critical. Jun 17, 2019 researching a book of an ancestor who was on the northwest frontier 18801910. Angloafghan wars britishafghani history britannica. Nov 06, 2017 the british army in afghanistan 200614. Yet during the entire 200year history of british rule in india, there was almost no increase in per capita income.