Afghanistan has a rich and complex history shaped by its strategic location at the crossroads of civilizations. From ancient empires like the Achaemenids and Kushans to the Islamic conquests and Mongol invasions, the country has witnessed centuries of cultural exchange and warfare. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Afghanistan became a battleground for global powers, including the British Empire and the Soviet Union. The U.S.-led intervention in 2001 marked another chapter in its long history of foreign influence.