The book by British historian and diplomat Percy Sykes most fully and accurately reproduces the history of Afghanistan, a state that has long been the center of the struggle for power due to its geographical and strategic location. The author describes the most important historical and political events that took place in the Middle East from ancient times to the siege of Herat in 1833, as well as the history of Afghanistan from the First Anglo-Afghan War, which ended with the occupation of Kabul, to the assassination of King Nadir Shah and the accession to the throne of Zahir. Shah in 1933. The “Appendices” section includes a number of important documents - treaties, letters and agreements, including the Simla Manifesto (1938). The publishing layout of the book is preserved in PDF A4 format.