Women of Afghanistan before fundamentalist Islam took over

From the 19th century and through the twentieth century the rulers of Afghanistan consistently attempted to lessen women's restrictions in the country. Among them was King Amanullah, who ruled from 1919 to 1929 and made some of the more noteworthy changes in an attempt to modernize the country. King Amanullah, promoted freedom for women in the public sphere in order to lessen the control that patriarchal families had over women. He stressed the importance for young girls and women to receive an education.