Cultural connections

Afghanistan has been subjected to centuries of turmoil, yet an astonishing collection of treasures survives and will be on show at the British Museum next week, as the exhibition’s curator St John Simpson explains

Afghanistan is often described as the crossroads of Asia and of the ancient world, and a major new exhibition of objects loaned by the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul to the British Museum sets out to tell the story of its turbulent history and rich culture.

By virtue of its position and physical geography, Afghanistan has always played an important role in the mediation of cultures between Iran, Central Asia and South Asia. The ebb and flow of different peoples, languages, faiths and material culture over the past 4,000 years is reflected in its archaeology and history. At times Afghanistan has been ruled from the centre, at others it has fragmented into different provinces and been assimilated by neighbours.