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Map of Central Asia showing Afghanistan and Her Relation to British and Russian Territories in 1885.
Central Asia: Afghanistan and Her Relation to British and Russian Territories. 1885.

Geography and Map Virtual Orientation: The Boundaries of Afghanistan during the Great Game

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Please join us for the fourth session in a new series of virtual orientations from the Geography and Map Division!

Date: Tuesday, December 13th, 2022

Time: 3:004:00 pm (Eastern)

Location: Zoom

Reference specialist Cynthia Smith and librarian Carissa Pastuch will present an introduction to the maps housed at the Library of Congress. This orientation will have a special focus on the maps that delineate the boundaries of Afghanistan and its neighboring territories during what was known as Great Game—a British and Russian rivalry for power and influence in South-Central Asia, which began in 1830 and lasted throughout most of the 19th century. There will also be a demonstration on how to find these maps online, how to use the Library’s online catalog, and how to find collection and subject guides to facilitate your research in the division. After the presentation and demonstration, staff look forward to answering additional questions from attendees. We hope to see you there!

Register for this session here.

Comments (2)

  1. I realize that The Great Game has been applied over the centuries to the rivalry between Britain and Russia, however for targeted areas (proud nations today) the appropriation of such a term would seem to demean those people, diminish their past suffering, and insult their collective memories. Colonialism was not a sport for those in the eye of the colonialist

  2. I realize that the term Great Game has been applied for hundred of years to the rivalry between Britain and Russia. However, for the peoples targeted (proud nations today) this term must be demeaning in the present and in their collective memories. Being targets for colonialism is not a sporting event.

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