A Brief History
On January 13, 1842, the lone survivor of a British army in Afghanistan staggered into Jalalabad!
Digging Deeper
Digging deeper, we find Dr. William Brydon along with a British army consisting of 4,500 soldiers and about 12,000 tag along civilians (family and camp followers) leaving Kabul under pressure for the safety of another British stronghold in Jalalabad on January 6, 1842.
One week later, only Dr. Brydon was spotted by lookouts at Jalalabad, and he did not look so good! A portion of his skull had been lopped off by an Afghan with a sword and he had a tale of hell to tell of sniping and harassment by Afghan tribesmen until a final battle earlier on the 13th. The most wacky part of his story was that he only lost a bit of his skull because he had a copy of a magazine crammed into his hat for warmth! (Namely, Blackwood’s Magazine, a periodical published from 1817 until 1980.)
It appeared that Dr. Brydon was the only survivor out of 16,500 people that had begun the trek. This distinction earned Dr. Brydon much fame and notoriety, but it turned out that he was not the sole survivor. The facts later revealed that about 115 soldiers and civilians had survived and been captured, later to be turned over to the British alive, but of course Brydon was the only one to complete the journey on his own. Just barely!
Afghanistan is not a large country, only about the size of Texas, and is not densely populated, but both the terrain and people can be quite ferocious. Mountainous and rocky, Afghanistan has foiled many invaders over the years, from the British in the 19th century to the Russians (Soviets) in the 20th century and to the Americans in the 21st century.
Situated on the route from India and Pakistan to the west, Afghanistan has been lusted after but never tamed. The Soviet Army’s defeat after 10 years of failure was a major factor in the break up of the Soviet Union. The United States has fared little better after nearly two decades of trying.
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British frustration was depicted in the movie The Man Who Would Be King (1975 with Sean Connery and Michael Caine) based on a tale by Rudyard Kipling. The lesson taught by the story is that it is unwise to try to subdue any part of Afghanistan, something history just does not seem to get across to super-powers!
Question for students (and subscribers): Should the United States of America have maintained its military presence in Afghanistan? If so, for how much longer? If not, why not? Please let us know in the comments section below this article.
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Historical Evidence
For more on the history of Britain’s battle for Afghanistan, including information on Brydon, see:
Dalrymple, William. Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan, 1839-42. Knopf, 2013.
For the 1975 movie, please see:
Huston, John, dir. The Man Who Would Be King. WarnerBrothers, 2010. DVD.
The featured image in this article, Remnants of an Army (1879) by Elizabeth Butler portraying William Brydon arriving at the gates of Jalalabad as the only survivor of a 16,500 strong evacuation from Kabul in January 1842, is a faithful photographic reproduction of a two-dimensional, public domain work of art. The work of art itself is in the public domain for the following reason: This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author’s life plus 70 years or less.
You can also watch a video version of this article on YouTube:
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="1012 http://www.crackedhistory.com/?p=1012">61 Comments
Dear readers, why has Afghanistan been such a difficult place to occupy? Sincerely, Dr. Zarzeczny
Afghanistan has been such a difficult place to occupy because of the terrain that invaders are not used to which makes fighting and transportation more difficult. If they are not familiar with the geography, they will have to learn the lay of the land and how to fight there. The inhabitants also know the land much better, which gives them a better chance at winning. The culture is also very different, the people in Afghanistan are fueled by their religion and are willing to protect that. They believe in what they are fighting for and will do anything they can. They use guerrilla warfare using the land, which is hard for others to beat. Because of the land and the nature of the people, Afghanistan is a very difficult country to occupy.
The reason that Afghanistan has been such a difficult place to occupy is because of the terrain and the people. Military ploys are unsuccessful because most of the soldiers are fighting on unfamiliar ground which gives the Afghanistan soldiers the upper hand. Also, with so many mountains it is near impossible to find someone once they have gone into hiding. The people as well cause problems because they all are divided by their beliefs which make it hard to decide which ones are an enemy and by the time a decision has been made that person is long gone.
Afghanistan has been such a difficult place to occupy is quite clear: the terrain and the people. The terrain is mountainous, rugged, and dangerous, even for a well traveled man. The tribesman who live there know the land as best as possible, so crossing them is dangerous, much like in the new movie “Lone Survivor”.
Afghanistan has been such a difficult place to occupy due to its lack of paved roads, dangerous weather and the natives who know the short cuts rather than a visitor. Military supplies is usually transported by air which is also dangerous due to the weather. The Taliban fighters have easy passage through Afghanistan due to its shared border with Pakistan also.
It was crazy to read how few survivors there were out of the British Army in Afghanistan because it is hard to imagine just how intense and dangerous the terrain is there.
Afghanistan has a very rugged terrain and dangerous weather conditions, making it a difficult place to occupy. Also, the natives in Afghanistan are more educated on the landscape, making it hard to get passed them.
Afghanistan has been such a difficult place to occupy because of the mountains and rocky terrain. The mountains give the Afghanistan soldiers an advantage while fighting because they are familiar with the terrain, unlike the US soldiers.
The biggest reason for Afghanistan being so difficult to occupy is because of the large mountains and desert/rock terrain. The Mountains are used to help the native soldiers and the extreme heat and dry weather are hard for the US soldiers because they are not used to the environment. The native soldiers are used to these rough conditions and are trained how to use it to their advantage. Another problem is the cities where the native soldiers are currently occupying are spread far apart and the US soldiers have to use main roads to get from place to place and they don’t know of shorter faster routes.
The reason Afghanistan had been extremely difficult to occupy and defeat is because of the unfamiliar rocky mountains, terrain, and ferocious people who live over there. The people who live over there are familiar with the land while the rest are unfamiliar. Being in a land that is unfamiliar while fighting is definitely a disadvantage.
Afghanistan has been a struggle for other countries to successfully occupy because of the harsh conditions that the soldiers are up against. It is not surprising that only one of the men was able to successfully make the journey. Not only is the terrain and climate difficult to survive but the environment is very hostile as well.
Afghanistan has been such a difficult place to occupy because the terrain is extremely difficult to navigate. Made of mostly rocks and mountains, Afghanistan has posed a challenge to the invaders that dare try and take the territory. Because the terrain is so unique and the people so relentless and harsh, many of Afghanistan’s enemies have a hard time conquering the territory.
Afghanistan could be difficult to occupy for many reasons. However, one of the major reasons is the unknown land. Without knowing the terrain and how to get around there is an obvious disadvantage. With such disadvantages it is difficult to occupy.
i think that it would be very hard to occupy Afghanistan because of the terrain. Most people would think that it would get easier because of our new machines that people in the past did not have. I think though that this would make it harder because of the mountains and difficult terrain that this place has. I think that if anyone was going to concur this aria that they would have to do it the old fashioned way by marching but even then it would still be hard.
People can occupy this territory, but it would be difficult due to the terrain. The mountainous region would be difficult to scale, but Dr. Brydon has completed this trek. We should try to follow in his footsteps if we are going to succeed in occupying this area.
Just like any unknown territory the advantage is going to go to the natives who know the land best. This can be seen in quite a few different wars where the main type of fighting included guerrilla warfare. Not only is the land in Afghanistan very hostile in itself but the people of the land have no interest in handing the power or their homeland over to foreign powers.
Afghanistan has been a difficult place to occupy with because of the terrain which consist of deserts and mountains. The people who live in Afghanistan know there land and know how to maneuver around it. Unlike the British army they were completely unaware of the quickest way of getting up that mountain. Time matters when you are at war. You got to be fast and you always have to be moving.
Afghanistan is rugged territory full of mountains and extreme desert heat. What happened to rest of the people with him? This question is not answered. The Soviet Union found out the hard way. History should have helped them learn from past mistakes.
Afghanistan’s terrain is without a doubt the most difficult obstacle facing those who seek to occupy the territory. However, it would be foolish for anyone to fail to recognize the tenacity of its people, who are defending their home and their way of life. A people who have adapted to this rugged place, that are familiar with it and adept at navigating the land’s terrain. Thus allowing them to develop the best strategy to a defend, ambush and retreat to strike again.
Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain has made it extremely difficult for any country to occupy it. Countries like Great Britain and the former Soviet Union failed because of the naturally difficult and unfamiliar geography. Considering Afghanistan’s key location in connecting the Middle East with Central Asia, there will always be a group that will attempt to occupy the country.
Afghanistan has a challenging terrain making it difficult to occupy. Without having a background and solid knowledge of the land makes it hard. If we knew more it would come easier to occupy.
Afghanistan is a hard place to occupy due to the fact we don’t know know the land. It also doesn’t help with the extreme heat and desserts they have.
Afghanistan is a difficult place to occupy because of the mountains and heat. When dealing with a foreign land, it is hard to know how to survive. Without the knowledge of the land, it is easy to die.
Thinking of Afghanistan’s terrain if you do not know the area well I can see how a whole army could die. Without knowing where to go in the foreign lands one could easily starve and die from dehydration.
Afghanistan is a very difficult place to occupy of the rocky terrain and intense heat. Those who were unfamiliar with the land may have certainly perished.
Afghanistan is difficult to occupy because we are not fully familiar with the area, along with secrets that may lie within the culture. The heat and rocky mountains don’t help either.
I am so suprised that so many conflicts happen when people try to occupy that place and they always are very violent
Afghanistan is such a difficult place to occupy because of the rigorious environment. The heat and the mountains are enough to tire out even the toughest of soldiers. The people who live in the country also are familar with the land so they have the advantage of staking out the intruders.
I would say that the reason it is hard to occupy the Afghanistan is because of the terrain and the locals know where to hide. It is really a difficult environment to fight in.
Afghanistan is a difficult place to occupy because of both the harsh environment and the people who already occupy it. The locals have already adapted the the harsh environment there and have the “home field advantage” when it comes to conflict.
The article states that various attempts have been made at occupying Afghanistan but little success has been made. I agree that the environment and “home field advantage” can play a role in the defeat of other countries but maybe Afghanistan has been fighting for so long that they have attained more education on successful fighting.
I think Afghanistan is a difficult place to occupy because of harsh environment and heat. it is hard to to survive in this type of place
I think Afghanistan is a difficult place because of the environment and the people there have an advantage because they live there. Also, because of the heat can play a major role.
I believe that it is difficult to occupy because of the people that live there. Also you could say that the people know their territory better than anyone trying to occupy it which would give them the advantage over anyone.
I think that Afghanistan is such a hard a hard place to occupy because of the heat the sand. Afghanistan is so different than a lot of places in the world making the residents of the country to have the advantage.
Even though Brydon was not necessarily the “lone survivor,” it is amazing that he even survived in the first place! First, he lost a bit of his skull. Second, he managed to travel through Afghanistan. Dealing with that rough terrain and Afghan tribesmen is a battle itself, making Afghanistan a difficult place to occupy.
Afghanistan is not an easy place to survive t because of the environment and climate there, but also because of the people. The fact that DR. Brydon was the only survivor out of 16,500 is shocking! So many lives were lost and yes me managed to make it out alive, barely alive.
I think that Dr. Brydon was one lucky man. I can’t believe he was only one of out of 16500 men to survive the trek. It is such a miracle because Afghanistan is a difficult place to travel. The reason it was so hard to occupy was probably due to the terrain. It is a mountainous country, as the article says. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for Brydon to travel across that terrain, injured, and with the possibility of being attacked by the natives.
We hear about Afghanistan a lot so I was surprised to hear it is only the size of Texas. I believe that Afghanistan has been such a difficult place to occupy because of the mountains and heat.
I did not know Afghanistan was only the size of Texas. It’s size doesn’t seem to be a downfall to its safety though as its so hard to occupy! It is its rocky and mountainous terrain that makes it so hard for invaders to tame! Maybe it’s time the United States among other country’s accepts the fact that it must be left alone.
Afghanistan has been such a hard place to occupy because of the intense heat and also I believe because of mountains. With this country only being the size of Texas one my think it would be easy to take over but there are extreme conditions that not everyone can survive in.
The most interesting part of this article is that a magazine stuffed into his hat for warmth winded up saving him part of his skull. Afghanistan sounds like a brutal place to be exploring. Even though Dr. Brydon was not the single survivor of the trek, only 115 of 16,500 people surviving still shows how difficult the conditions and the people in Afghanistan really were.
Afghanistan’s terrain and climate is what makes it so difficult to occupy.
Afghanistan has been difficult to occupy and control because of the rough terrain, sparse population, and ferocious warriors. It appears that the United States did not learn from the failures of both Britain and the Soviet Union. No super power seems to be able to conquer Afghanistan.
I did not realize how many super-powers, besides the United States, had been at war with Afghanistan. The article says that Afghanistan is not large, but has ferocious soldiers and a tough terrain. The tough terrain is probably advantageous during battle for the soldiers. They know their land well, while those on the outside do not, and they probably use that to their advantage. This makes it hard for outsiders to win battle in Afghanistan.
The climate in this country along with it’s terrain makes it a very difficult place to occupy. As the reading said, Dr. Brydon lost part of his skull from trying to keep a magazine in his hat for warmth. Afghanistan is a rather hot country but at night I am guessing it turns rather cold.
Afghanistan has been a difficult place to occupy because of the rough terrain and ferocious people. Afghanistan is a mountainous area and although very hot during the day I imagine those temperatures can drop fairly quickly at night. Many people have tried and failed to conquer Afghanistan.
I found it interesting that a magazine crammed into his hat for warmth saved his skull! In the condition this man was found in, I can hardly believe that he survived. With the ferocious terrain and people, Afghanistan is a difficult place to occupy and survive on your own.
It is amazing to think that this man survived alone in the harsh Afghan climate. For this reason the British faltered where so many others have in the past as well as the present.
I feel like we are just bound to repeat history for eternity. We never learn! To start a trek with over 16,000 people and believe you are the lone survivor must have been extremely hard for Brydon, especially with a chunk of his head gone. Both Afghanistan terrain and natives are dangerous.
I wonder how Dr. Brydon made it through his journey without being captured and still alive. What did he do differently than the others that he was with? The terrain of Afghanistan is so treacherous that it is a miracle that he lived.
How did he survive in that terrain, in those circumstances and with a chuck of his skull gone? That is some story. As said in the article, Afghanistan’s terrain is very difficult and often trumps many of its travelers, I’m sure this terrain took many people through the voyage as well.
How he made it out by himself with a piece of his skull gone is beyond me. Shows how treacherous the terrain of Afghanistan really is. Nations have tried to take control but no one has truly succeeded. I wonder how he managed to escape when no one else managed to.
In one week 16,384 people were killed because they were spotted traveling. This is amazing to think. In addition it is amazing that Brydon was able to survive and get home with the amount of damage done to his head.
I never realized that Afghanistan is the size of Texas. Afghanistan is so difficult to occupy because of its rough terrain and its climate.
With all of the casualties, it is amazing that Brydon made it out alive to say the least.
What a crazy story. It is amazing that out of that many people he was, at first, the only known survivor. The most insane part to me is that a part of his skull was missing! I am curious as to how he was able to survive like that.
Afghanistan is difficult to occupy because of it’s unique, harsh terrain. No military can properly prepare for it. The native people use this to their advantage.
Never thought about comparing Texas and Afghanistan, but I can only imagine how hard it is to occupy
The difficulty of all these different powers to conquer Afghanistan is incredible. It reminds me, on a larger scale, of the region of Greece I come from. The region of Agrafa (meaning unwritten) is isolated in the mountains of Central Greece. During the Ottoman occupation, the region was more or less untouched by the Ottomans, and so we escaped a lot of the oppression or atrocities others faced.
It is amazing to read about how out of 16,500 men only one survived. In such rough terrain, I found it amazing that this lone survivor even made it back alive.