1900 - 1999 AD
a history timeline with 1277 events | Global
Timeline Events
1900
Science
- Max Planck Explains Blackbody Radiation (1900)
Max Planck: explains the emission spectrum of a black body
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Tags: Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Theoretical Physics, Scientific Revolution, Energy, Electromagnetism
Technology
- Paris Metro's First Line Inaugurated (1900)
First section of the Paris Metro opens.
Related Links:
Tags: Urbanization, Public Transportation, Infrastructure, Industrial Revolution, Modernization
- Theodor Kober Designs the First Zeppelin (1900)
The first Zeppelin is designed by Theodor Kober.
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Tags: Aviation, Transportation, Industrial Revolution
Politics
- Hawaii Formally Becomes a U.S. Territory (1900)
Hawaii becomes an official U.S. territory.
Tags: Imperialism, Colonialism, Annexation, Territorial Acquisition, American Expansionism
- King Umberto I of Italy Assassinated (1900)
King Umberto I of Italy is assassinated.
Related Links:
Tags: Assassination, Monarchy, Political Violence, Anarchism, Kingdom of Italy
Art
- Paris Exposition Showcases Art Nouveau (1900)
Exposition Universelle held in Paris, prominently featuring the growing art trend Art Nouveau.
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Tags: Exhibition, Modern Art, Architecture
Literature
- L. Frank Baum Publishes The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
L. Frank Baum publishes The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
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Tags: Children's Literature, Fantasy, American Literature, Novel, Cultural Impact, Symbolism
- Publication of 'Europe in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries' by Grant and Temperley (1900)
Grant, A. J. and Harold Temperley. Europe in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries (1789-1939) (1940) online
Tags: Historiography, European History, World History
- Publication of *An Encyclopedia of World History* (5th ed. 1973) (1900)
Langer, William, ed. An Encyclopedia of World History (5th ed. 1973); highly detailed outline of events online
Tags: Encyclopedias, Historiography, World History, Education, Information Dissemination
- Publication of Harper Encyclopedia of the Modern World Online (1900)
Morris, Richard B. and Graham W. Irwin, eds. Harper Encyclopedia of the Modern World: A Concise Reference History from 1760 to the Present (1970) onli...
Tags: Encyclopedia, Information, Research
1901
Science
- First Nobel Prizes Awarded (1901)
December 10: First Nobel Prizes awarded.
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Tags: Awards, Philanthropy, Alfred Nobel, Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace
Technology
- Marconi Transmits First Transatlantic Radio Signal (1901)
December 12: Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic radio signal.
Related Links:
Tags: Radio, Communication, Guglielmo Marconi, Scientific Breakthrough
- First Powered Vacuum Cleaner Patented (1901)
The first motorized cleaner using suction, a powered "vacuum cleaner", is patented independently by Hubert Cecil Booth and David T. Kenney.
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Tags: Industrial Revolution, Patent, Consumerism
Politics
- Australian Colonies Federate (1901)
January 1: The Australian colonies federate.
Related Links:
Tags: Colonialism, Political History, Nationalism, Commonwealth, Self-Government, British Empire
- Edward VII Ascends to the Throne of England and India (1901)
January 22: Edward VII became King of England and India after Queen Victoria's death.
Related Links:
Tags: Monarchy, British Empire, Succession, Imperialism, Governance
- Platt Amendment Establishes Cuban Independence with US Oversight (1901)
March 2: The Platt Amendment provides for Cuban independence in exchange for the withdrawal of American troops.
Related Links:
Tags: Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Spanish-American War, Treaty, Sovereignty, Political Influence
- McKinley Assassination and Roosevelt's Ascension (1901)
September 6: The assassination of William McKinley ushered in office Vice President Theodore Roosevelt after McKinley's death on September 14.
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Tags: Presidency, Assassination, Progressive Era, Political Violence, Executive Branch
1902
Technology
- Willis Carrier Patents Modern Air Conditioning (1902)
July 17: Willis Carrier invents the first modern electrical air conditioning unit.
Related Links:
Tags: Industrial Revolution
Politics
- Ibn Saud Captures Riyadh, Beginning Saudi Unification (1902)
January 13: The Unification of Saudi Arabia begins.
Related Links:
Tags: Unification, Arabia, Expansionism, Wahhabism
- United States Grants Cuba Independence (1902)
May 20: Cuba given independence by the United States.
Tags: Independence, Cuban History, United States History, Imperialism, Colonialism, Diplomacy, Treaty of Paris, Spanish-American War, Sovereignty
- Arthur Balfour Appointed British Prime Minister (1902)
July 12: Arthur Balfour becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Tags: Prime Minister, Edwardian Era, British Empire, Political Leadership
1903
Technology
- Ægidius Elling Invents First Successful Gas Turbine (1903)
The first successful gas turbine is invented by Ægidius Elling.
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Tags: Energy, Industrial Revolution, Power Generation
- Édouard Bénédictus Invents Laminated Glass (1903)
Édouard Bénédictus invents laminated glass.
Related Links:
Tags: Materials Science, Automotive Industry, Construction
- Wright Brothers Achieve First Sustained Powered Flight (1903)
First sustained and controlled heavier-than-air powered flight achieved by an airplane flown at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina by Orville and Wilbur Wrigh...
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Tags: Aviation, Flight, Transportation
Politics
- Assassination of King Alexander I and Queen Draga in Serbia (1903)
June 11: King Alexander I of Serbia and his wife Queen Draga are assassinated in a military coup.
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Tags: Monarchy, Assassination, Coup d'état, Political Instability, Regicide
- Bolsheviks and Mensheviks Emerge from RSDLP Split (1903)
July – August: In Russia the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks form from the breakup of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party.
Tags: Socialism, Marxism, Russian Revolution, Bolsheviks, Vladimir Lenin, Political Parties, Ideology, Political Division
- Panama's Independence and US Treaty (1903)
November 18: Independence of Panama, the Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty is signed by the United States and Panama.
Tags: Imperialism, Treaty, Independence, Panama Canal, Geopolitics
1904
Technology
- U.S. Begins Panama Canal Construction & Yellow Fever Eradication Efforts (1904)
May: U.S. begins construction of the Panama Canal and eradication of yellow fever.
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Tags: Panama Canal, Public Health, Disease Eradication, United States History, Infrastructure
- Trans-Siberian Railway Completed (1904)
June 21: Trans-Siberian Railway is completed.
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Tags: Railroad, Infrastructure, Transportation, Russian Empire, Industrial Revolution, Modernization, Geopolitics, Economic Development
- Fleming Valve (Vacuum Tube) Invention (1904)
The Fleming valve, the first vacuum tube and diode, is invented by John Ambrose Fleming.
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Tags: Electronics, Radio, Telecommunications
Politics
- Britain and France Sign Entente Cordiale (1904)
April 8: Entente Cordiale signed between Britain and France.
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Tags: Diplomacy, Alliance, Imperialism, Great Powers, International Relations
1905
Science
- Einstein Formulates Special Relativity (1905)
September 26: Albert Einstein's formulation of special relativity.
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Tags: Physics, Relativity, Albert Einstein, Theoretical Physics, Scientific Revolution, Modern Physics, Global Impact
- Einstein's Annus Mirabilis: Special Relativity, Brownian Motion, and Photoelectric Effect (1905)
Albert Einstein: theory of special relativity, explanation of Brownian motion, and photoelectric effect
Tags: Physics, Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, Scientific Revolution, Albert Einstein, Theoretical Physics, Modern Science, Cosmology
Politics
- Bloody Sunday: St. Petersburg Massacre Sparks Revolution (1905)
January 22: The Revolution of 1905 in Russia erupts.
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Tags: Revolution, Tsar Nicholas II, Protest, Political Unrest, Autocracy, Social Reform
- The First Moroccan Crisis Begins (1905)
March 31: The First Moroccan Crisis begins, going until April 1906.
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Tags: Imperialism, Colonialism, Diplomacy, International Relations, Pre-World War I, Entente Cordiale, Scramble for Africa
- Norway Dissolves Union with Sweden and Gains Independence (1905)
June 7: The Norwegian Parliament declares the union with Sweden dissolved, and Norway achieves full independence.
Related Links:
Tags: Independence, Nationalism, Political Union, Monarchy, Diplomacy, Sovereignty, Parliament
- Partition of Bengal by British India (1905)
October 16: The British Indian Province of Bengal, partitioned by the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon, despite strong opposition.
Tags: British Empire, Colonialism, Partition, Nationalism, Indian Independence Movement, Bengal, Political Division
- Henry Campbell-Bannerman Appointed UK Prime Minister (1905)
December 5: Liberal Henry Campbell-Bannerman becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Related Links:
Tags: Prime Minister, Liberal Party, Government, Edwardian Era, Political Leadership
- Persian Constitutional Revolution Begins (1905)
The Persian Constitutional Revolution begins.
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Tags: Constitutionalism, Revolution, Qajar Dynasty, Monarchy, Political Reform, Modernization
1906
Science
- Walther Nernst Formulates the Third Law of Thermodynamics (1906)
Walther Nernst: Third law of thermodynamics
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Tags: Physics, Thermodynamics, Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, German Science
Technology
- Santos-Dumont Flies the 14-bis in Paris (1906)
October 23: Brazilian inventor Alberto Santos-Dumont takes off and flies his 14-bis to a crowd in Paris.
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Tags: Aviation, Flight
Politics
- Dreyfus Exonerated and Reinstated (1906)
July 13: Alfred Dreyfus is exonerated and reinstated as a major in the French Army; the Dreyfus affair ends.
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Tags: Justice, Anti-Semitism, Military
- Muslim League Founded in Dacca (1906)
December 30: The Muslim League is formed by Nawab Salimullah Khan of Dacca.
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Tags: Political Parties, Muslims, Indian Independence Movement, Partition of India, Colonialism, British Empire, Nationalism
1907
Science
- Alfred Bertheim Synthesizes Arsphenamine (1907)
Alfred Bertheim: Arsphenamine, the first modern chemotherapeutic agent
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Tags: Medicine, Pharmacology
Technology
- Paul Cornu's First Free Flight of a Rotary-Wing Aircraft (1907)
The first free flight of a rotary-wing aircraft is carried out by Paul Cornu.
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Tags: Aviation, Flight, Early Aviation
- Leo Baekeland Develops Bakelite (1907)
Leo Baekeland invents bakelite, the first plastic made from synthetic components.
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Tags: Plastic, Synthetic Materials, Chemistry, Industrial Revolution, Material Science, Manufacturing
- Development of Ramjet Engine Principles (1907)
The tuyères thermopropulsives after 1945 (Maurice Roy (fr)) known as the statoreacteur a combustion subsonique (the ramjet) – R. Lorin
Tags: Aeronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Jet Propulsion
Politics
- Finland Holds First Elections with Female Candidates and Universal Suffrage in Europe (1907)
March 15 – 16: Elections to the new Parliament of Finland are the first in the world with woman candidates, as well as the first elections in Europe w...
Tags: Suffrage, Women's Rights, Elections, Political Reform, Gender Equality, Political History
- Japan Enforces Protectorate over Korea (1907)
July 24: Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907.
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Tags: Imperialism, Colonialism, Treaty, Japanese Empire, Protectorate
- Anglo-Russian Convention Ends the Great Game (1907)
August 31: The Anglo-Russian Convention bring an end to the Great Game in Central Asia.
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Tags: Imperialism, Great Game, Geopolitics, British Empire, Russian Empire, Diplomacy, Colonialism
- Indian National Congress Splits at Surat (1907)
The Indian National Congress splits into two factions at its Surat session, presided by Rash Behari Bose.
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Tags: Indian National Congress, Nationalism, Independence Movement, British Raj, Internal Conflict
- Persian Parliament Established (1907)
Persian Constitutional Revolution ends with the establishment of a parliament.
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Tags: Constitutionalism, Parliament, Monarchy, Revolution, Political Reform, Qajar Dynasty
1908
Science
- NASA Records Coldest Year Since 1880 (1908)
The coldest year since 1880 according to NASA.
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Tags: Climate, Meteorology, Temperature, NASA
Technology
- Ford Motor Company Introduces the Model T (1908)
October 1: The Ford Motor Company invents the Model T.
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Tags: Automobile, Industrial Revolution, Mass Production, Assembly Line, Transportation, Consumerism
- First Commercial Radio Broadcasts (1908)
First commercial radio transmissions.
Tags: Radio, Communication, Broadcasting, Guglielmo Marconi, Entertainment, Media
- Cellophane Invention (1908)
Cellophane is invented by Jacques E. Brandenberger.
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Tags: Material Science, Packaging, Industrial Revolution, Consumer Goods, Manufacturing
Politics
- H. H. Asquith Appointed British Prime Minister (1908)
April 8: Liberal H. H. Asquith becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
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Tags: Prime Minister, Liberal Party, Edwardian Era, British Empire, Government
- Young Turk Revolution in the Ottoman Empire (1908)
July: Young Turk Revolution in the Ottoman Empire.
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Tags: Ottoman Empire, Revolution, Constitutionalism, Modernization, Balkan Wars, Nationalism
- Bureau of Investigation Established (1908)
July 26: Founding of the Bureau of Investigation (BOI)
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Tags: Law Enforcement, Federal Government, Justice, Crime, FBI
- Austria-Hungary Annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina (1908)
early October: Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina, triggering the Bosnian Crisis.
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Tags: Imperialism, Annexation, Nationalism, Austria-Hungary, Diplomacy, Great Powers, Pre-World War I, Geopolitics
- Bulgaria Declares Independence from the Ottoman Empire (1908)
October 5: Bulgarian Declaration of Independence.
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Tags: Independence, Ottoman Empire, Nationalism, Sovereignty
- Puyi Ascends to the Chinese Throne (1908)
December 2: Puyi, the last Emperor of China, assumes the throne.
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Tags: Qing Dynasty, Emperor, Monarchy, Imperialism, Dynastic Cycle, Succession
1909
Science
- Robert Peary's Claim of Reaching the North Pole (1909)
April 6: Robert Peary claims to have reached the North Pole though the claim is subsequently heavily contested.
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Tags: Exploration, Polar Exploration, Controversy, Arctic, Geography
- Fritz Haber Develops the Haber-Bosch Process (1909)
Fritz Haber invents the Haber process.
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Tags: Chemistry, Industrial Revolution, Agriculture, Scientific Breakthrough, World War I, Chemical Warfare
- Millikan Determines the Charge of an Electron (1909)
Robert Andrews Millikan: conducts the oil drop experiment and determines the charge on an electron
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Tags: Physics, Atomic Theory, Experimental Physics, Scientific Method, Modern Physics, Quantum Mechanics
Technology
- First Instantaneous Television Broadcast by Rignoux and Fournier (1909)
The first instantaneous transmission of images, or television broadcast, is carried out by Georges Rignoux and A. Fournier.
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Tags: Television, Communication
Politics
- Taft Inaugurated, Republican Party Divides Over Tariffs (1909)
March 4: William Howard Taft is inaugurated as President of the United States; deep divisions in his Republican Party over tariffs.
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Tags: Presidency, Tariffs, Economic Policy
- Anglo-Siamese Treaty Signed (1909)
March 10: Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 signed (effective on July 9).
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Tags: Treaty, Colonialism, British Empire, Thailand, Imperialism, Political Agreements
- Indian Councils Act Enacted (1909)
March 12: Indian Councils Act passed.
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Tags: British Empire, Colonialism, Political Reform, Indian Independence Movement, Representation
- Failed Countercoup in the Ottoman Empire (1909)
April 13: A countercoup fails in the Ottoman Empire.
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Tags: Ottoman Empire, Political Instability, Military, Government, Istanbul
- Qajar Shah Mohammad Ali Shah Abdicates, Ahmad Shah Ascends (1909)
July 16: A revolution forces Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar, Persian Shah of the Qajar dynasty to abdicate in favor of his son Ahmad Shah Qajar.
Tags: Monarchy, Qajar Dynasty, Revolution, Abdication, Succession, Political Instability
- Japan and China Resolve Jiandao/Gando Border Dispute (1909)
Japan and China sign the Jiandao/Gando Treaty.
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Tags: Treaty, Diplomacy, Border Dispute, Qing Dynasty, Territorial Claims
1910
Science
- Halley's Comet Returns, Sparking Widespread Public Interest (1910)
April: Halley's Comet returns.
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Tags: Astronomy, Comets, Popular Culture, Celestial Events
- Williamina Fleming Identifies the First White Dwarf Star (1910)
Williamina Fleming: the first white dwarf, 40 Eridani B
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Tags: Astronomy, Cosmology, Stellar Evolution, Astrophysics, Spectroscopy
Politics
- George V Ascends to the British Throne (1910)
May 6: George V becomes King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India upon the death of Edward VII.
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Tags: British Empire, Monarchy, Succession, Imperialism, World War I
- Establishment of the Union of South Africa (1910)
May 31: Union of South Africa is created.
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Tags: Colonialism, Apartheid, British Empire, South African History, Political Union, Self-governance
- Montenegro Declares Independence (1910)
August 28: Kingdom of Montenegro is proclaimed independent.
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Tags: Independence, Monarchy, Nationalism, Sovereignty, Kingdom
- Japan Formally Annexes Korea (1910)
August 29: Imperial Japan annexes Korea.
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Tags: Imperialism, Colonialism, Annexation, Japanese Empire, Political History, World War I, Meiji Restoration
- Portuguese Republican Revolution and Proclamation (1910)
October 5: The 5 October 1910 revolution in Portugal and proclamation of the First Portuguese Republic.
Tags: Republic, Revolution, Monarchy, Political Change, Republicanism, Political Instability
1911
Science
- Amundsen Reaches the South Pole (1911)
December 14: Roald Amundsen first reaches the South Pole.
Related Links:
Tags: Exploration, Polar Exploration, Geopolitics, Geography
- Cloud Chamber Invented (1911)
The cloud chamber, the first particle detector, is invented by Charles Thomson Rees Wilson.
Tags: Physics, Particle Physics, Experimentation, Discovery, Scientific Revolution
- Rutherford Discovers the Atomic Nucleus (1911)
Ernest Rutherford: Atomic nucleus
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Tags: Physics, Atomic Theory, Nuclear Physics, Ernest Rutherford, Modern Science, Scientific Revolution
- Heike Kamerlingh Onnes Discovers Superconductivity (1911)
Heike Kamerlingh Onnes: Superconductivity
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Tags: Physics, Discovery, Scientific Breakthrough, Material Science, Nobel Prize
Technology
- First Aircraft Landing on a Ship (1911)
January 18: Eugene Burton Ely lands on the deck of the USS Pennsylvania stationed in San Francisco harbor, marking the first time an aircraft lands on...
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Tags: Aviation, Naval Technology, Military Technology, United States Navy, Transportation
- Louis Chevrolet Co-Founds Chevrolet Motor Company (1911)
November 3: Swiss race car driver and automotive engineer Louis Chevrolet co-founds the Chevrolet Motor Company in Detroit with his brother Arthur Che...
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Tags: Automotive Industry, Automobile, Entrepreneurship, Manufacturing, Business, Industrial Revolution, Transportation
Politics
- Franco-German Dispute over Morocco (1911)
April – November: Agadir Crisis.
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Tags: Imperialism, Colonialism, Diplomacy, Weltpolitik, Entente Cordiale, Arms Race, Pre-World War I
- Wuchang Uprising Initiates Chinese Revolution (1911)
October 10: 1911 Revolution, which overthrew the Qing dynasty of China, begins.
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Tags: Revolution, Qing Dynasty, Republic, Political Change
- New Delhi Established as Capital of British India (1911)
December 12: New Delhi becomes the capital of British India.
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Tags: British Empire, Colonialism, Governance, Political History, Imperialism
1912
Science
- Alfred Wegener Proposes Continental Drift Theory (1912)
Alfred Wegener: Continental drift
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Tags: Geology, Theory, Scientific Revolution, Earth Science, Global Impact
- Max von Laue Discovers X-ray Diffraction (1912)
Max von Laue: x-ray diffraction
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Tags: Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Scientific Revolution
- Vesto Slipher Observes Redshifts of Spiral Nebulae (1912)
Vesto Slipher: galactic redshifts
Related Links:
Tags: Astronomy, Cosmology, Galaxies, Observational Astronomy, Expansion of the Universe, Physics
- Henrietta Swan Leavitt Discovers Cepheid Period-Luminosity Relation (1912)
Henrietta Swan Leavitt: Cepheid variable period-luminosity relation
Tags: Astronomy, Cosmology, Astrophysics, Edwin Hubble
Technology
- Lionel Introduces First Commercial Slot Cars (1912)
The first commercial slot cars or more accurately model electric racing cars operating under constant power were made by Lionel (USA) and appeared in ...
Tags: Toys, Entertainment, Consumerism, Electric Vehicles
- Articulated Trams Introduced in Boston (1912)
The first use of articulated trams by Boston Elevated Railway.
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Tags: Transportation, Urban Development, Public Transit, Infrastructure
Politics
- African National Congress Founded (1912)
February 8: The African National Congress is founded.
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Tags: Political Organization, Anti-Apartheid Movement, Nationalism, Civil Rights, Activism, Nelson Mandela, African Politics
- Qing Dynasty Abdication and Founding of the Republic of China (1912)
February 12: End of the Chinese Empire. Republic of China established.
Related Links:
Tags: Republic, Dynasty, Imperialism, Political Transition, Nationalism, Qing Dynasty
- Arizona Admitted as a State (1912)
February 14: Arizona becomes the last state to be admitted to the continental Union.
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Tags: Statehood, American West, United States History, Expansionism, Political Geography
- Morocco Established as French Protectorate (1912)
March 30: Morocco becomes a protectorate of France.
Related Links:
Tags: Colonialism, Imperialism, Protectorate, French Empire, Diplomacy, Geopolitics
- Emperor Meiji's Death and Accession of Emperor Taishō (1912)
July 30: Emperor Meiji dies, ending the Meiji era; his son, the Emperor Taishō, becomes Emperor of Japan.
Tags: Monarchy, Emperor, Succession, Japanese History, Political Transition
- Kuomintang (KMT) Founded (1912)
August 25: The Kuomintang, the Chinese nationalist party, is founded.
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Tags: Kuomintang, Nationalist Party, Political Parties, Republic of China, Chinese History, Revolution
1913
Science
- Bohr's Atomic Model Revolutionizes Physics (1913)
Niels Bohr formulates the first cohesive model of the atomic nucleus, and in the process paves the way to quantum mechanics.
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Tags: Physics, Atomic Theory, Quantum Mechanics, Scientific Revolution, Modern Physics, Theoretical Physics
- Moseley Defines Atomic Number (1913)
Henry Moseley: defined atomic number
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Tags: Physics, Chemistry, Atomic Theory, Periodic Table, Ernest Rutherford, Scientific Revolution, Modern Physics
- Niels Bohr Proposes Atomic Model (1913)
Niels Bohr: Model of the atom
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Tags: Physics, Atomic Theory, Quantum Mechanics, Scientific Revolution
Technology
- Ford Motor Company Introduces the Moving Assembly Line (1913)
October 7: Ford Motor Company introduces the first moving assembly line.
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Tags: Industrial Revolution, Assembly Line, Mass Production, Manufacturing, Automobile Industry
- Bergius Process Developed (1913)
The Bergius process is developed by Friedrich Bergius.
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Tags: Chemistry, World War I, World War II, Energy, German Science
- Viktor Kaplan Invents the Kaplan Turbine (1913)
The Kaplan turbine is invented by Viktor Kaplan.
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Tags: Renewable Energy, Industrial Revolution
Politics
- Ismail Enver Seizes Power in Ottoman Coup (1913)
January 23: In the 1913 Ottoman coup d'état, Ismail Enver comes to power.
Related Links:
Tags: Ottoman Empire, Coup d'état, Political Instability, Military, Power Struggle, Nationalism
- Woodrow Wilson Inaugurated as U.S. President (1913)
March 4: Woodrow Wilson is inaugurated as President of the United States.
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Tags: Presidency, Progressive Era, Woodrow Wilson, Inauguration, Government
- Treaty of London Resolves First Balkan War (1913)
May 30: Treaty of London.
Related Links:
Tags: Balkan Wars, Treaties, Diplomacy, Ottoman Empire, Nationalism, Territorial Disputes
- Yuan Shikai Dissolves Parliament and Establishes Dictatorship (1913)
Yuan Shikai uses military force to dissolve China's parliament and rules as a dictator.
Related Links:
Tags: Dictatorship, Parliament, Republicanism, Political Instability, Republic of China, Authoritarianism
Art
- The Rite of Spring Premiere Causes Riot in Paris (1913)
May 29: Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring infamously premiers in Paris which causes a riot.
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Tags: Music, Modernism, Performance Art, Cultural Revolution
1914
Science
- Martha, the Last Passenger Pigeon, Dies (1914)
September 1: Martha, last known passenger pigeon, dies.
Related Links:
Tags: Extinction, Environmentalism, Conservation, Wildlife, Zoology
Politics
- United Kingdom Establishes Protectorate over Egypt (1914)
December 19: The United Kingdom establishes the Sultanate of Egypt as a protectorate.
Related Links:
Tags: British Empire, Imperialism, Protectorate, Colonialism, World War I
1915
Science
- Einstein and Hilbert Publish General Relativity (1915)
Albert Einstein: theory of general relativity – also David Hilbert
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Tags: Physics, Relativity, Theoretical Physics, Cosmology, Scientific Revolution, Modern Physics
- Karl Schwarzschild Calculates the Schwarzschild Radius (1915)
Karl Schwarzschild: discovery of the Schwarzschild radius leading to the identification of black holes
Related Links:
Tags: Physics, Cosmology, Relativity, Black Holes, Theoretical Physics, Astronomy, German Science
Technology
- Harry Brearley Invents Stainless Steel (1915)
Harry Brearley invents a process to create Martensitic stainless steel, initially labelled Rustless Steel, later marketed as Staybrite, and AISI Type ...
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Tags: Metallurgy, Materials Science, Industrial Revolution, World War I
1916
Technology
- Daylight Saving Time Introduced in Germany and Austria-Hungary (1916)
April 30: The first nationwide implementation of daylight saving time in the German Empire and Austria-Hungary.
Related Links:
Tags: World War I, Austria-Hungary, Timekeeping, Standardization, Military
- Czochralski Process for Crystal Growth Invented (1916)
The Czochralski process, widely used for the production of single crystal silicon, is invented by Jan Czochralski.
Related Links:
Tags: Materials Science, Semiconductors, Electronics, Manufacturing, Industrial Revolution
Politics
- Warlord Era Begins in China (1916)
June 6: The Warlord Era begins in China after the death of Yuan Shikai.
Related Links:
Tags: Civil War, Republic of China, Political Instability, Regional Conflict, Fragmentation
- Lucknow Pact: Congress and Muslim League Agreement (1916)
December: The Pact is agreed upon by both the Congress and the Muslim League at the Indian city of Lucknow.
Tags: Indian Independence Movement, Indian National Congress, Political Alliance, Self-Government, British Raj, Nationalism, Partition of India
- David Lloyd George Appointed UK Prime Minister (1916)
December 6: Liberal David Lloyd George becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Related Links:
Tags: Prime Minister, World War I, Liberal Party, Government, British Empire
- Assassination of Grigori Rasputin (1916)
December 30: Grigori Rasputin is assassinated in Russia.
Related Links:
Tags: Assassination, Russian Empire, World War I, Political Intrigue, Tsar Nicholas II, Romanov Dynasty, Monarchy, Political Instability, Conspiracy
1917
Technology
- Crystal Oscillator Invention (1917)
The crystal oscillator is invented by Alexander M. Nicholson using a crystal of Rochelle Salt although his priority was disputed by Walter Guyton Cady...
Tags: Electronics, Radio Technology, Telecommunications
Politics
- February Revolution Overthrows Russian Empire (1917)
March 8: Russian Revolution ends the Russian Empire; beginning of Russian Civil War.
Related Links:
Tags: Russian Revolution, Russian Empire, Tsar Nicholas II, Civil War, Bolsheviks, World War I, Political Instability, Revolution
- Bolsheviks Seize Power in Petrograd (1917)
November 7 (O.S. October 25): October Revolution in the Russian Republic.
Tags: Russian Revolution, Bolsheviks, Vladimir Lenin, Soviet Union, Communism, Socialism, Civil War
- Finland Declares Independence (1917)
December 6: Independence of Finland.
Related Links:
Tags: Independence, Nationalism, World War I, Russian Revolution, Self-determination
1918
Science
- Emmy Noether Formulates Noether's Theorem (1918)
Emmy Noether: Noether's theorem – conditions under which the conservation laws are valid
Related Links:
Tags: Physics, Mathematics, Theoretical Physics, Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, Scientific Revolution
Politics
- Ukraine Declares Independence (1918)
January 22: Ukraine declares independence from Russia.
Related Links:
Tags: Independence, Nationalism, World War I, Russian Empire, Self-determination, Revolution, Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
- Azerbaijan Democratic Republic Established (1918)
May 28: Azerbaijan Democratic Republic declared.
Related Links:
Tags: Independence, Nationalism, Azerbaijan, World War I, Ottoman Empire
- Mehmed VI Ascends as Last Ottoman Sultan and Caliph (1918)
July 4: Mehmed VI becomes the last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and the last Caliph.
Related Links:
Tags: Ottoman Empire, Sultan, Caliphate, World War I, Succession, Islamic World, Decline
- Execution of Tsar Nicholas II and Family (1918)
July 16 – 17: Assassination of Tsar Nicholas II and his family.
Related Links:
Tags: Russian Revolution, Romanov Dynasty, Bolsheviks, Civil War, Communism, Political Violence, Monarchy, World War I
- Establishment of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs (1918)
October: the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs is established.
Related Links:
Tags: World War I, Nationalism, Self-determination, Austria-Hungary, Yugoslavia
- German Revolution Begins (1918)
October 29: German Revolution begins.
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Tags: Revolution, World War I, Weimar Republic, Political Upheaval, Socialism, Political Instability
- Founding of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom (1918)
The Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen founded.
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Tags: Kingdom, Political Formation, Middle East History, Monarchy
- German Emperor Wilhelm II Abdicates (1918)
November 9: Abdication of Wilhelm II.
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Tags: World War I, German Empire, Abdication, Weimar Republic, Monarchy, Political Transition
- Iceland Gains Sovereignty as a Kingdom (1918)
December 1: The Kingdom of Iceland, a personal union with Denmark, is formed.
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Tags: Independence, Sovereignty, Kingdom, Self-determination, Political Development
1919
Science
- Eddington's Confirmation of General Relativity (1919)
First experimental evidence for the General theory of relativity obtained by Arthur Eddington.
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Tags: Physics, Relativity, Astronomy, Scientific Revolution, Theory, Albert Einstein, Cosmology
- Rutherford Identifies the Proton (1919)
Ernest Rutherford discovers the proton.
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Tags: Physics, Atomic Physics, Particle Physics, Ernest Rutherford, Nuclear Physics, Modern Science, Chemistry
Politics
- Treaty of Versailles Signed (1919)
Paris Peace Conference writes Treaty of Versailles that punishes Germany.
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Tags: World War I, Treaty, Peace Treaty, Post-War, League of Nations, Interwar Period
- US Begins First Red Scare; Irish War of Independence Starts (1919)
January 21: The First Red Scare in the United States. Irish War of Independence begins.
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Tags: Communism, Anti-Communism, War of Independence, Civil Unrest, Nationalism, Revolution
- Communist International Founded in Moscow (1919)
March 2: Communist International established in the Kremlin to coordinate Communist parties worldwide.
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Tags: Communism, Soviet Union, Political Ideology, Cold War, Revolution, Moscow, World War I
- Egyptian Revolution Against British Rule Begins (1919)
July: The 1919 Egyptian revolution erupts.
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Tags: Anti-Colonialism, Nationalism, British Empire, Independence Movements
- German Empire Collapses, Weimar Republic Established (1919)
August 11: German Revolution ends with the collapse of the German Empire and the establishment of the Weimar Republic.
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Tags: Weimar Republic, World War I, Empire, Republic, Political Transition, Post-War, Treaty of Versailles
Art
- Felix the Cat's Debut in Feline Follies (1919)
November 19: Release date of Feline Follies, the first appearance of Felix the Cat (then known as Master Tom).
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Tags: Animation, Cartoon, Early Cinema, Entertainment
1920
Science
- Arthur Eddington Proposes Nuclear Fusion as Stellar Energy Source (1920)
Arthur Eddington: Stellar nucleosynthesis
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Tags: Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics, Stars, Stellar Evolution, Energy, Scientific Theory, 20th Century Science, Cosmology
Politics
- League of Nations Established (1920)
January 10: League of Nations founded.
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Tags: International Relations, Peacekeeping, World War I, Diplomacy, Treaty of Versailles, Woodrow Wilson, Multilateralism, Post-War
- Establishment of the British Mandate for Palestine (1920)
April 25: Mandatory Palestine established.
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Tags: Mandate System, British Empire, Zionism, World War I, Ottoman Empire, Colonialism, League of Nations
- Gandhi Begins Non-Cooperation Movement (1920)
September 5: Mahatma Gandhi launches Non-cooperation movement.
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Tags: Indian Independence Movement, Civil Disobedience, British Empire, Anti-Colonialism, Nationalism, Political Protest
- Greek Monarchy Restored After Referendum (1920)
Greece restores its monarchy after a referendum.
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Tags: Monarchy, Referendum, Constitutional Monarchy, Greek History
1921
Politics
- Warren G. Harding Inaugurated as U.S. President (1921)
March 4: Warren G. Harding is inaugurated as President of the United States.
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Tags: Presidency, Inauguration, Government
- Hitler Ascends: Führer of the Nazi Party Amid Weimar Crisis (1921)
July 29: Adolf Hitler becomes Führer of the Nazi Party as hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic begins.
Tags: Adolf Hitler, Weimar Republic, Political Leadership, Hyperinflation, Political Instability
- Mussolini Founds the Italian Fascist Party (1921)
November 9: The Italian National Fascist Party is established by Benito Mussolini.
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Tags: Fascism, Benito Mussolini, Political Parties, Interwar Period, Totalitarianism, Authoritarianism
- Coup d'état establishes the Pahlavi dynasty in Iran (1921)
December 15: Coup brings the Pahlavi dynasty to power in Iran.
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Tags: Coup d'état, Monarchy, Political Instability, Qajar Dynasty, Middle East History, Authoritarianism
Literature
- R.U.R. Play Premiere: Introduction of the Word 'Robot' (1921)
January 25: Premiere of the science-fiction play R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots), in which the word "robot" was first used.
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Tags: Science Fiction, Robotics, Theater, Playwright, Artificial Intelligence, Modernism
1922
Science
- Insulin Isolated and Produced for Diabetes Treatment (1922)
Frederick Banting, Charles Best, James Collip, John Macleod: isolation and production of insulin to control diabetes
Tags: Medicine, Biochemistry, Scientific Breakthrough
Technology
- BBC Founded (1922)
November 14: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) established.
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Tags: Broadcasting, Radio, Media, Communication, Cultural Impact, Public Service
Politics
- Pius XI Elected Pope; Washington Naval Treaty Signed (1922)
February 6: Pius XI becomes Pope. The Washington Naval Treaty is signed.
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Tags: Treaty, Catholicism, World War I Aftermath, Diplomacy, International Relations
- Egypt Declares Independence from the United Kingdom (1922)
February 28: Egypt gains independence from the United Kingdom, though British forces still occupy the Suez Canal.
Tags: Independence, Decolonization, British Empire, Nationalism, Suez Canal, Political Transition, Mandate System, Interwar Period
- Bonar Law Appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1922)
October 23: Conservative Bonar Law becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
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Tags: Prime Minister, Conservative Party, British Empire, Interwar Period, Government
- Mussolini's Fascists Seize Power in Italy (1922)
October 28: March on Rome brings Benito Mussolini to power in Italy.
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Tags: Fascism, Benito Mussolini, Totalitarianism, Interwar Period, World War II
- Ottoman Sultanate Abolished, Sultan Mehmed VI Deposed (1922)
November 1: Ottoman Sultanate abolished by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey; Sultan Mehmed VI is deposed.
Tags: Ottoman Empire, Sultanate, Republic, Political Transition, Nationalism
- Irish Free State Established; Northern Ireland Created (1922)
December 6: Irish Free State is established, while the Province of Northern Ireland is created within The United Kingdom.
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Tags: Irish History, Independence, Partition, Northern Ireland, Treaty, Self-determination
- Assassination of Polish President Gabriel Narutowicz (1922)
December 16: Gabriel Narutowicz, President of Poland, is assassinated.
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Tags: Assassination, President, Political Violence, Interwar Period, Nationalism, Democracy
- Formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) (1922)
December 30: The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), the world's first officially Communist state, is formed.
Tags: Communism, Soviet Union, USSR, Russian Revolution, Ideology, Vladimir Lenin, Totalitarianism, Cold War
- Gandhi Suspends Non-Cooperation Movement (1922)
Mohandas Gandhi calls off Non-cooperation movement.
Related Links:
Tags: Indian Independence Movement, Civil Disobedience, Gandhi, British Raj, Political Protest, Nationalism, Colonialism
Art
- Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun (1922)
November 4: Howard Carter discovers the Tomb of Tutankhamun.
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Tags: Archaeology, Pharaoh, Discovery, Art History
Literature
- James Joyce's Novel Ulysses Published (1922)
February 2: James Joyce publishes Ulysses.
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Tags: Literature, Modernism, Novel, Fiction, Cultural Impact
1923
Politics
- Stanley Baldwin Appointed UK Prime Minister (1923)
May 22: Stanley Baldwin becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
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Tags: Prime Minister, Conservative Party, British Politics, Government
- President Harding Dies; Coolidge Becomes President (1923)
August 2: Death of Warren G. Harding; Vice President Calvin Coolidge assumes office as President of the United States.
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Tags: Presidency, Succession, Government, American History
- Atatürk Elected President of the Republic of Turkey (1923)
October 29: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk becomes the first President of the newly established Republic of Turkey.
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Tags: Republic, President, Nationalism, Ottoman Empire, Modernization
- Failed Beer Hall Putsch (1923)
November 8: The Beer Hall Putsch, an attempt to overthrow the Weimar Republic, ends in failure and brief imprisonment for Adolf Hitler but brings the ...
Tags: Nazism, Weimar Republic, Adolf Hitler, Political Violence, Fascism, Coup Attempt, Political Instability, Interwar Period
Art
- Walt Disney Company Founded (1923)
October 16: The Walt Disney Company is founded.
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Tags: Animation, Film, Entertainment, Business, Disney, Mass Media, American Culture
1924
Science
- Pauli Formulates Exclusion Principle (1924)
Wolfgang Pauli: quantum Pauli exclusion principle
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Tags: Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Atomic Physics, Theoretical Physics, Scientific Revolution, Modern Physics
- Hubble's Confirmation of Galaxies Beyond the Milky Way (1924)
Edwin Hubble: the discovery that the Milky Way is just one of many galaxies
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Tags: Astronomy, Cosmology, Edwin Hubble, Galaxies, Milky Way, Universe, Observational Astronomy, Expansion of the Universe
Politics
- Lenin's Death Sparks Stalin-Trotsky Power Struggle (1924)
January 21: The death of Vladimir Lenin triggers power struggle between Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin.
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Tags: Communism, Soviet Union, Political Intrigue, Leon Trotsky, Joseph Stalin, Russian Revolution, Totalitarianism, Dictatorship, Ideology
- Ramsay MacDonald Becomes UK Prime Minister (1924)
January 22: Ramsay MacDonald becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; first Labour Party prime minister.
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Tags: Labour Party, Prime Minister, Political History, Socialism, Parliament, Government
- Turkey Abolishes the Caliphate (1924)
March 3: The Caliphate is abolished by Kemal Atatürk.
Tags: Secularism, Political Reform, Ottoman Empire, Islam, Republic, Modernization, Nation-building, Religious Institutions
- Immigration Act Restricts Entry to the United States (1924)
May 24: Immigration Act of 1924 significantly restricts immigration from Asia, the Middle East, and Southern Europe to USA.
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Tags: Immigration, Legislation, Discrimination, Xenophobia
Art
- Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' Premieres (1924)
February 12: Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin premieres in New York City.
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Tags: Music, Classical Music, Composition, American Culture, Orchestral Music, New York City
1925
Science
- Schrödinger Develops the Schrödinger Equation (1925)
Erwin Schrödinger: Schrödinger equation (Quantum mechanics)
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Tags: Quantum Mechanics, Physics, Atomic Theory, Theoretical Physics, Scientific Revolution, Modern Science
- Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin Determines Solar Composition and Hydrogen Abundance (1925)
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin: Discovery of the composition of the Sun and that hydrogen is the most abundant element in the Universe
Related Links:
Tags: Astronomy, Cosmology, Astrophysics, Elements, 20th Century Science
Technology
- First Demonstration of Television Technology (1925)
March – April: First televisual image introduced by John Logie Baird.
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Tags: Communication, Broadcasting
- Fischer–Tropsch Process Developed (1925)
The Fischer–Tropsch process is developed by Franz Fischer and Hans Tropsch at the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut für Kohlenforschung.
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Tags: Chemical Engineering, Industrial Revolution, World War II
Politics
- Mussolini's Speech Formally Establishes Fascist Dictatorship (1925)
January 3: Benito Mussolini delivers a speech to begin his dictatorship.
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Tags: Fascism, Dictatorship, Benito Mussolini, Totalitarianism, Interwar Period, Authoritarianism
- Locarno Treaties Signed (1925)
October 5 – 16: Locarno Treaties signed.
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Tags: International Relations, Treaty, Weimar Republic, Interwar Period, Diplomacy, Rhineland, League of Nations
Literature
- Mein Kampf Publication (1925)
July 18: Hitler's Mein Kampf is published.
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Tags: Nazism, Adolf Hitler, Propaganda, Fascism, Anti-Semitism, Political Ideology, World War II, Literature, Ideology
1926
Technology
- NBC Founded in New York City (1926)
June 19: National Broadcasting Company (NBC) founded in New York City.
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Tags: Broadcasting, Radio, Media, Entertainment, Communication, Corporations
- Yagi-Uda Antenna Invented (1926)
The Yagi-Uda Antenna or simply Yagi Antenna is invented by Shintaro Uda of Tohoku Imperial University, assisted by his colleague Hidetsugu Yagi. The Y...
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Tags: Radio Technology, Wireless Communication, World War II, Telecommunications
- Robert Goddard Launches First Liquid-Fueled Rocket (1926)
Robert H. Goddard launches the first liquid fueled rocket.
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Tags: Space Exploration, Rocketry, Aviation
- Harry Ferguson Patents the Three-Point Hitch (1926)
Harry Ferguson, patents the Three-point hitch equipment linkage system for tractors.
Related Links:
Tags: Agriculture, Farming, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Revolution
- John Logie Baird Demonstrates First Live Television System (1926)
John Logie Baird demonstrates the world's first live working television system.
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Tags: Television, Inventions, Communication, Broadcasting, Mass Media
Politics
- Józef Piłsudski's Coup d'état in Poland (1926)
May 12 – 14: May Coup in Poland.
Tags: Coup d'état, Interwar Period, Military, Authoritarianism, Democracy
- Military Coup Overthrows Portuguese First Republic (1926)
May 28: 28 May 1926 coup d'état in Portugal.
Related Links:
Tags: Coup d'état, Military, Authoritarianism, Political Instability, Interwar Period, European History
- Kondylis Coup Overthrows Pangalos in Greece (1926)
August 22: General Georgios Kondylis overthrows General Theodoros Pangalos in Greece.
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Tags: Coup d'état, Military Dictatorship, Interwar Period, Political Instability
- Emperor Taishō's Death and Hirohito's Accession (1926)
December 25: Emperor Taishō dies; his son, the Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito) becomes Emperor of Japan.
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Tags: Monarchy, Emperor, Succession, Imperialism
1927
Science
- Heisenberg Formulates Uncertainty Principle (1927)
Werner Heisenberg: Uncertainty principle (Quantum mechanics)
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Tags: Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Theoretical Physics, Scientific Revolution
- Georges Lemaître Proposes the Big Bang Theory (1927)
Georges Lemaître: Theory of the Big Bang
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Tags: Cosmology, Physics, Astronomy, Relativity, Expansion of the Universe, Scientific Theory, Global Impact
Technology
- Lindbergh's First Nonstop Flight from New York to Paris (1927)
May 20 – 21: Charles Lindbergh performs the first nonstop flight from New York City to Paris; becomes a world hero.
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Tags: Aviation, Transportation, Communication, Global Impact
- CBS Founded in New York City (1927)
September 18: Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) founded in New York City.
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Tags: Broadcasting, Radio, Communications, Media, Entertainment
- The Jazz Singer Premiere: First Feature-Length 'Talkie' (1927)
October 6: The Jazz Singer, the first "talkie", is released.
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Tags: Film, Cinema, Sound, Entertainment, Motion Pictures, Hollywood
- Quartz Clock Invention (1927)
The quartz clock is invented by Warren Marrison and J.W. Horton at Bell Telephone Laboratories.
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Tags: Timekeeping, Precision, Electronics
Politics
- Australian Parliament Opens in Canberra (1927)
May: The Parliament of Australia convenes in Canberra for the first time.
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Tags: Parliament, Government, Federalism, Nationalism
- Formal Change of Name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1927)
May 13: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland officially becomes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
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Tags: Northern Ireland, British Empire, Political Geography, Government
- Saudi Arabia's Independence Achieved (1927)
May 20: Saudi Arabia gains independence.
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Tags: Independence, Political History, Monarchy, Nation Building, Wahhabism
- Stalin Consolidates Dictatorial Power in the Soviet Union (1927)
November 12: Soviet general secretary Joseph Stalin becomes dictator of the Soviet Union.
Tags: Dictatorship, Communism, Totalitarianism, Soviet Union, Stalinism, Political Power, Joseph Stalin, Authoritarianism, Cold War
Art
- Mount Rushmore Construction Commences (1927)
October 4: Mount Rushmore construction begins in South Dakota, U.S.
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Tags: Sculpture, Monument, Art, American History
1928
Science
- Alexander Fleming's Accidental Penicillin Discovery (1928)
September 3: Accidental rediscovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming.
Related Links:
Tags: Medicine, Antibiotics, Discovery, Alexander Fleming, Healthcare, Infectious Diseases, Microbiology
- Penicillin Discovery by Alexander Fleming (1928)
Penicillin is first observed to exude antibiotic substances by Nobel laureate Alexander Fleming. Development of medicinal penicillin is attributed to ...
Tags: Medicine, Antibiotics, Discovery, Alexander Fleming
- Dirac Equation Formulation (1928)
Paul Dirac: Dirac equation (Quantum mechanics)
Related Links:
Tags: Quantum Mechanics, Theoretical Physics, Physics, Particle Physics, Electromagnetism, Scientific Revolution
Technology
- Frank Whittle Submits Ideas for Turbo-Jet Engine (1928)
Frank Whittle formally submitted his ideas for a turbo-jet engine. In October 1929, he developed his ideas further. On 16 January 1930, Whittle submit...
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Tags: Aviation, World War II, Patent
- Philo Farnsworth Demonstrates Electronic Television (1928)
Philo Farnsworth demonstrates the first practical electronic television to the press.
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Tags: Television, Communication, Electronics, Broadcasting, Mass Media
Politics
- Kellogg–Briand Pact Signed in Paris (1928)
July 24: The Kellogg–Briand Pact is signed in Paris.
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Tags: Diplomacy, International Relations, Peace Treaty, Interwar Period, World War I, United States of America, Multilateralism
- Zog I Crowned King of Albania (1928)
September 1: King Zog I is crowned in Albania.
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Tags: Monarchy, Albania, King, Balkan History, Interwar Period, Nationalism
- Malta Granted Dominion Status (1928)
Malta becomes a British Dominion.
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Tags: British Empire, Colonialism, Self-governance, Malta, World War II
Art
- Mickey Mouse Debuts in Steamboat Willie (1928)
November 18: Steamboat Willie, is the first appearance of Mickey Mouse.
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Tags: Animation, Film, Walt Disney, Cartoon, Entertainment Industry, Popular Culture, Early Cinema
1929
Science
- Hubble Formulates Law of Expanding Universe (1929)
Edwin Hubble: Hubble's law of the expanding universe
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Tags: Astronomy, Cosmology, Edwin Hubble, 20th Century Science, Universe, Expansion, Space
- Alexander Fleming Discovers Penicillin (1929)
Alexander Fleming: Penicillin, the first beta-lactam antibiotic
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Tags: Medicine, Antibiotics, Alexander Fleming, Medical Breakthrough, Global Health
- Lars Onsager Formulates Reciprocal Relations in Thermodynamics (1929)
Lars Onsager's reciprocal relations, a potential fourth law of thermodynamics
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Tags: Physics, Thermodynamics, Theoretical Physics, 20th Century Science, Nobel Prize, Physical Chemistry
Technology
- Ball Screw Invention (1929)
The ball screw is invented by Rudolph G. Boehm.
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Tags: Mechanical Engineering, Precision Engineering, Manufacturing, Automation, Machine Tools, Industrial Revolution
Politics
- Trotsky Exiled from the Soviet Union (1929)
February: Leon Trotsky is exiled.
Related Links:
Tags: Soviet Union, Communism, Political Purges, Exile, Leon Trotsky, Joseph Stalin, Russian Revolution, Totalitarianism, Cold War
- Vatican City Recognized as Sovereign State by Italy (1929)
February 11: Pope Pius XI signs the Lateran Treaty with Italian leader Benito Mussolini, after which the Vatican City is recognised as a sovereign sta...
Tags: Treaty, Catholicism, Fascism, Sovereignty, Vatican City, Benito Mussolini, Interwar Period, Diplomacy
- Herbert Hoover Inaugurated as U.S. President (1929)
March 4: Herbert Hoover is inaugurated as President of the United States.
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Tags: Presidency, Great Depression, Inauguration, Executive Branch
- Ramsay MacDonald Appointed UK Prime Minister (1929)
June 5: Ramsay MacDonald becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
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Tags: Prime Minister, Labour Party, British Politics, Interwar Period, Government, Socialism
- First Gulag Inmates in the Soviet Union (1929)
First people sent to the gulag in the Soviet Union as Stalin assumes effective control.
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Tags: Soviet Union, Gulag, Stalin, Purges, Repression, Totalitarianism, Human Rights
Art
- Inaugural Academy Awards Ceremony Held (1929)
May 16: The first Academy Awards are presented.
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Tags: Film, Cinema, Awards, Hollywood, Motion Pictures, Entertainment, United States History
1930
Science
- Pluto Discovered by Clyde Tombaugh (1930)
February 18: Clyde Tombaugh discovers Pluto.
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Tags: Astronomy, Space Exploration, Planets, Astrophysics, Solar System, Discovery
- Phase-Contrast Microscopy Invented (1930)
The Phase-contrast microscopy is invented by Frits Zernike.
Related Links:
Tags: Microscopy, Optics, Scientific Instruments, Cell Biology
- Chandrasekhar Determines Limit for White Dwarf Mass (1930)
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar discovers his eponymous limit of the maximum mass of a white dwarf star
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Tags: Astrophysics, Cosmology, Stellar Evolution, Theoretical Physics, 20th Century Science, General Relativity, Quantum Mechanics
Technology
- Chrysler Building Construction Completed (1930)
May 27: Construction of Chrysler Building completed.
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Tags: Architecture, Skyscrapers, Construction, Art Deco, New York City, Urban Development
- Frank Whittle Conceives the Supersonic Combusting Ramjet (1930)
The Supersonic combusting ramjet — Frank Whittle.
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Tags: Aeronautics, Jet Propulsion, Military Technology
Politics
- Gandhi Leads Salt March to Protest British Salt Monopoly (1930)
March 12: Salt March by Mohandas Gandhi and the official start of civil disobedience in British India.
Tags: Civil Disobedience, Indian Independence Movement, British Empire, Gandhi, Nonviolent Resistance, Nationalism, Colonialism, Protest
- Haile Selassie's Coronation as Emperor (1930)
April 2: Haile Selassie becomes Emperor of Abyssinia.
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Tags: Monarchy, Emperor, African History, Imperialism, Coronation
- Nazi Party Gains Significant Vote Share in Reichstag Election (1930)
September 14: Aided by the Great Depression, the Nazi Party increases its share of the vote from 2.6% to 18.3%.
Related Links:
Tags: Nazism, Weimar Republic, Great Depression, Adolf Hitler, Political Instability, Interwar Period
- First Round Table Conference on India's Future (1930)
November: First Round Table Conference between India and Great Britain, which goes until January 1931.
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Tags: British Empire, Indian Independence Movement, Colonialism, Self-Government, Gandhi, Imperialism
- Getúlio Vargas Seizes Power in Brazil (1930)
November 3: The Vargas Era begins in Brazil.
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Tags: Getúlio Vargas, Revolution, Dictatorship, Political Transition, Authoritarianism
Art
- First Looney Tunes Short Released: Sinkin' in the Bathtub (1930)
April 19: Sinkin' in the Bathtub, the first Looney Tunes short, is released.
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Tags: Animation, Cartoon, Film, Entertainment
1931
Science
- Gödel Publishes Incompleteness Theorems (1931)
Kurt Gödel: incompleteness theorems prove formal axiomatic systems are incomplete
Related Links:
Tags: Mathematics, Logic
Technology
- Vatican Radio Launches Broadcasting (1931)
February 12: Vatican Radio first began broadcasting.
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Tags: Radio, Broadcasting, Communication, Vatican, Catholicism, Religion, Propaganda
- Empire State Building Completed (1931)
May 1: Empire State Building completed.
Related Links:
Tags: Architecture, Skyscrapers, Construction, New York City, Art Deco, Modernism, Urbanization
- First Non-Stop Transpacific Flight Completed (1931)
October 5: Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon Jr. complete the first non-stop flight across the Pacific Ocean in their plane, Miss Veedol, in 41½ hours.
Related Links:
Tags: Aviation, Transportation
- Ernst Ruska Invents the Electron Microscope (1931)
The electron microscope is invented by Ernst Ruska.
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Tags: Microscopy, Physics, Instrumentation, Scientific Revolution, Medical Advancements, Materials Science
Politics
- Second Spanish Republic Proclaimed (1931)
April 14: The Second Spanish Republic is declared.
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Tags: Republic, Republicanism, Government, Civil War, Monarchy
- Mao Zedong Proclaims the Chinese Soviet Republic (1931)
November 7: The Chinese Soviet Republic is proclaimed by Mao Zedong.
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Tags: Communism, Chinese Communist Party, Mao Zedong, Revolution, Civil War, Political Ideology, Republic
- British Commonwealth of Nations Established & South Africa's Independence Granted (1931)
December 11: Statute of Westminster creates the British Commonwealth of Nations. Independence of South Africa.
Tags: Decolonization, Commonwealth, British Empire, Independence, Self-governance, International Relations, Diplomacy, Imperialism
- South Africa Gains Independence from the United Kingdom (1931)
Independence of South Africa.
Related Links:
Tags: Independence, Decolonization, British Empire, Commonwealth, Imperialism, Nationalism, South African History
Art
- Christ the Redeemer Statue Completed (1931)
December 12: Christ the Redeemer completed.
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Tags: Sculpture, Monument, Art Deco, Christianity, Brazilian History
1932
Science
- James Chadwick Discovers the Neutron (1932)
The neutron is discovered by James Chadwick.
Related Links:
Tags: Physics, Nuclear Physics, Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, World War II, Global Impact
- Karl Jansky Detects Radio Waves from the Milky Way Center (1932)
Karl Guthe Jansky discovers the first astronomical radio source, Sagittarius A
Related Links:
Tags: Astronomy, Radio Astronomy, Astrophysics, Cosmology, Milky Way
- Cockcroft and Walton Achieve Nuclear Fission by Proton Bombardment (1932)
Ernest Walton and John Cockcroft: Nuclear fission by proton bombardment
Related Links:
Tags: Physics, Nuclear Physics, Experimentation, Scientific Breakthrough
Technology
- BBC World Service Launches International Broadcasts (1932)
December 19: BBC World Service starts broadcasting.
Related Links:
Tags: Media, Communication, World War II, Propaganda, International Relations
Politics
- Éamon de Valera Becomes Irish Prime Minister (1932)
March 9: Éamon de Valera becomes President of the Executive Council (prime minister) of the Irish Free State.
Tags: Prime Minister, Interwar Period, Government, Nationalism
- Siamese Revolution: Constitutional Monarchy Established (1932)
June 24: Siamese Revolution establishes a constitutional monarchy.
Related Links:
Tags: Constitutional Monarchy, Revolution, Political Reform, Thailand, Military Coup, Political Transition, Monarchy
- Third Round Table Conference on India's Future (1932)
Third Round Table Conference.
Tags: British Empire, Indian Independence Movement, Colonialism, Self-Government, Gandhi, Indian National Congress
- Nazi Party Gains Majority in German Parliament (1932)
The Nazi party becomes the largest single party in the German parliament.
Tags: Nazism, Weimar Republic, Fascism, Political Parties, Adolf Hitler, Totalitarianism, Interwar Period
1933
Technology
- FM Radio Patented by Edwin Armstrong (1933)
FM radio is patented by inventor Edwin H. Armstrong.
Related Links:
Tags: Radio, Communication
- Invention of the First Lightweight, Folding Wheelchair (1933)
Harry C. Jennings Sr. and Herbert Everest, both mechanical engineers, invented the first lightweight, steel, folding, portable wheelchair with their "...
Tags: Medical Technology
Politics
- Hitler Appointed Chancellor of Germany (1933)
January 30: Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany.
Related Links:
Tags: Nazism, Fascism, Adolf Hitler, Weimar Republic, Political Power, Totalitarianism, World War II, Political Transition, Dictatorship
- Franklin D. Roosevelt Inaugurated as U.S. President (1933)
March 4: Franklin D. Roosevelt is inaugurated as President of the United States
Tags: Presidency, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Great Depression, American History, Inauguration
- Japan Withdraws from the League of Nations (1933)
March 27: Japan announces it will leave the League of Nations.
Related Links:
Tags: League of Nations, Japanese Empire, International Relations, Diplomacy, Interwar Period, Nationalism, Expansionism, World War II
- Germany Withdraws from League of Nations and Disarmament Conference (1933)
October 14: Germany announces its withdrawal from the League of Nations and the World Disarmament Conference, after the U.S., the U.K. and France deny...
Related Links:
Tags: World War II, League of Nations, Weimar Republic, International Relations, Diplomacy, Political Tensions
- New Deal Programs Commence (1933)
New Deal begins in America.
Related Links:
Tags: Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Economic Policy, Social Welfare, American History, Political Reform, Reform
1934
Science
- Fermi Achieves Nuclear Fission with Neutron Irradiation (1934)
Enrico Fermi: Nuclear fission by neutron irradiation
Related Links:
Tags: Physics, Nuclear Physics, Radioactivity
- Calorie Restriction Experiments Extend Lifespan of Rats (1934)
Clive McCay: Calorie restriction extends the maximum lifespan of another species
Related Links:
Tags: Biology, Aging, Longevity, 20th Century Science
Politics
- United States Grants More Autonomy to the Philippines (1934)
March 24: The United States grants more autonomy to the Philippines.
Related Links:
Tags: Colonialism, Self-Government, Commonwealth, Imperialism, Interwar Period
- Night of the Long Knives: Hitler Consolidates Power (1934)
June 30 – July 2: Adolf Hitler instigates the Night of the Long Knives, which cements his power over both the Nazi Party and Germany.
Related Links:
Tags: Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler, Purge, Political Violence, Totalitarianism, Dictatorship, Third Reich
- Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss Assassinated in Nazi Coup Attempt (1934)
July 25: Engelbert Dollfuss, Chancellor of Austria, is shot dead as part of a failed Nazi coup d'état.
Related Links:
Tags: Assassination, Nazism, Coup d'état, Interwar Period, Fascism, World War II, Failed Coup
- Hitler Assumes Title of Führer After Hindenburg's Death (1934)
August 2: With the death of Paul von Hindenburg, Hitler declares himself Führer of Germany.
Related Links:
Tags: Nazism, Totalitarianism, Dictatorship, World War II, Political Power, Leadership, Third Reich, Adolf Hitler, Weimar Republic
1935
Technology
- Nylon Fiber Production Begins (1935)
Nylon, the first fully synthetic fiber is produced by Wallace Carothers while working at DuPont.
Related Links:
Tags: Synthetic Materials, Textiles, Chemistry, Industrial Revolution, Consumer Goods
Politics
- Iran Formally Adopted as Name by Reza Shah (1935)
March 21: Reza Shah of Iran asks the international community to formally adopt the name "Iran" to refer to the country, instead of the name "Persia".
Tags: Nationalism, Identity, Modernization
Art
- 20th Century Fox Film Studio Founded (1935)
May 31: Establishment of 20th Century Fox.
Related Links:
Tags: Film, Cinema, Hollywood, Motion Pictures, Entertainment Industry, Media, Business
1936
Science
- Last Known Thylacine Dies (1936)
September 7: The last known thylacine dies in Hobart Zoo.
Related Links:
Tags: Extinction, Tasmania, Zoology, Conservation, Biodiversity, Wildlife
Technology
- Hoover Dam Completed (1936)
The Hoover Dam is completed.
Related Links:
Tags: Infrastructure, Great Depression, Construction
- Modern Trampoline Invented by Nissen and Griswold (1936)
George Nissen and Larry Griswold build the first modern trampoline.
Related Links:
Tags: Sport, Recreation
Politics
- Edward VIII Ascends to British Throne (1936)
January 20: Edward VIII becomes King of the British Commonwealth and Emperor of India.
Tags: British Empire, Monarchy, Succession, Commonwealth, World War II, Imperialism
- Edward VIII Abdicates, George VI Ascends the Throne (1936)
December 11: After a reign shorter than one year, Edward VIII abdicates and hands the throne to his brother, George VI.
Related Links:
Tags: Monarchy, Abdication, British Empire
- Stalin's Great Purge Begins (1936)
Great Purge begins under Stalin.
Related Links:
Tags: Stalin, Soviet Union, Purges, Political Repression, Communism, Totalitarianism, Gulag
1937
Technology
- Hindenburg Airship Disaster (1937)
May 6: German zeppelin Hindenburg crashes in Lakehurst, New Jersey, ending the airship era.
Related Links:
Tags: Aviation, Disaster, Interwar Period, Commercial Aviation, Transportation
Politics
- Neville Chamberlain Appointed British Prime Minister (1937)
May 28: Neville Chamberlain becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Related Links:
Tags: Prime Minister, Appeasement, World War II, Parliament
Art
- First Feature-Length Animated Film Released: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
December 21: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the first feature-length animated movie released.
Related Links:
Tags: Animation, Film, Cinema, Disney, Walt Disney, Hollywood, Entertainment, Motion Pictures
Literature
- J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit Published (1937)
September 21: J. R. R. Tolkien publishes The Hobbit.
Related Links:
Tags: Literature, Fantasy, Novel, Children's Literature, Cultural Impact
1938
Science
- Nuclear Fission Discovered (1938)
Nuclear fission discovered in experiment by chemists Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann and physicists Lise Meitner and Otto Robert Frisch. The German nuc...
Related Links:
Tags: Nuclear Physics, World War II, Cold War, Manhattan Project, Scientific Breakthrough
- Discovery of Nuclear Fission (1938)
Otto Hahn, Lise Meitner and Fritz Strassmann: Nuclear fission of heavy nuclei
Related Links:
Tags: Nuclear Physics, Physics, World War II, Energy, Atomic Bomb
- Isidor Rabi Develops Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1938)
Isidor Rabi: Nuclear magnetic resonance
Related Links:
Tags: Physics, Nuclear Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Spectroscopy, Research, Nobel Prize
Technology
- László Bíró Patents the Ballpoint Pen (1938)
June 15: Hungarian newspaper editor László Bíró fills a British patent of the first commercially successful ballpoint pen. This would popularize the i...
Related Links:
Tags: Patent, Design, World War II, Post-War, Consumer Goods
- Konrad Zuse Constructs the Z1 Computer (1938)
Z1, built by Konrad Zuse, is the first freely programmable computer in the world.
Related Links:
Tags: Computer Science, Early Computing, Mechanical Computer, World War II, Digital Revolution
Politics
- Germany Annexes Austria in Anschluss (1938)
March 12: Anschluss unifies Germany and Austria.
Tags: Nazism, World War II, Expansionism, Annexation, Dictatorship, Adolf Hitler, Political Union, Nationalism, Appeasement, Interwar Period
- Évian Conference Fails to Address Jewish Refugee Crisis (1938)
July 6–15: Évian Conference ends with all attendee nations save the Dominican Republic refusing to accept more Jewish refugees from the Third Reich.
Related Links:
Tags: World War II, Holocaust, Refugees, Anti-Semitism, International Relations, Diplomacy, Third Reich, Human Rights
- Munich Agreement: Czechoslovakia Ceded to Nazi Germany (1938)
September 30: Munich Agreement hands Czechoslovakia to Nazi Germany.
Related Links:
Tags: Appeasement, Nazi Germany, World War II, Czechoslovakia, Adolf Hitler, Treaty, Diplomacy
- Time Magazine Names Adolf Hitler Man of the Year (1938)
December: Time Magazine declares Adolf Hitler as Man of the Year.
Related Links:
Tags: Propaganda, Nazism, Fascism, World War II, Adolf Hitler, Media, Global Impact
- End of the Great Purge (1938)
The Great Purge ends after nearly 700,000 executions.
Related Links:
Tags: Totalitarianism, Stalinism, Soviet Union, Purges, Political Repression, Gulag, Communism, Joseph Stalin, Human Rights Violations
Literature
- Superman Debuts in Action Comics (1938)
April 18: DC Comics hero Superman has its first appearance.
Tags: Fiction, American Culture, Entertainment, Pop Culture
1939
Technology
- Ferrari Founded in Modena (1939)
September 13: Ferrari founded in Modena, Italy (as Auto Avio Costruzioni) by Enzo Ferrari.
Related Links:
Tags: Automotive Industry, Business, Entrepreneurship, Manufacturing, Design
- Invention of the Electric Current Defibrillator (1939)
G. S. Yunyev or Naum Gurvich invented the electric current defibrillator
Related Links:
Tags: Medicine, Medical Technology, Electrical Engineering, Soviet Union, Healthcare
Politics
- Spanish Civil War Ends; Franco Establishes Dictatorship (1939)
April 1: End of Spanish Civil War; Francisco Franco becomes dictator of Spain.
Related Links:
Tags: Dictatorship, Civil War, Fascism, Authoritarianism, Political Violence, Totalitarianism
- Germany and Soviet Union Sign Non-Aggression Pact (1939)
August 23: The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between Germany and the Soviet Union.
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Tags: World War II, Appeasement, Nazi Germany, Soviet Union, Diplomacy, Totalitarianism, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin
Art
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Releases The Wizard of Oz (1939)
August 25: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer releases The Wizard of Oz.
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Tags: Film, Hollywood, Cinema, Children's Literature, American Culture, Entertainment
1940
Science
- Neptunium Synthesized (1940)
Neptunium is synthesized.
Related Links:
Tags: Chemistry, Nuclear Physics, Manhattan Project, Research
- Discovery of Plutonium-239 (1940)
Pu-239 isotope (isotope of plutonium) a form of matter existing with the capacity for use as a destructive element (because the isotope has an exponen...
Tags: Nuclear Physics, Radioactivity, Manhattan Project
Technology
- Cavity Magnetron Development (1940)
John Randall and Harry Boot would develop the high power, microwave generating, cavity magnetron, later applied to commercial Radar and Microwave oven...
Tags: World War II, Radio Technology, Physics, Electromagnetism
Politics
- Winston Churchill Appointed Prime Minister (1940)
May 10: Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Tags: World War II, Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, British Empire, Allies
- Leon Trotsky Assassinated in Mexico (1940)
August 20: Leon Trotsky is assassinated in Mexico.
Related Links:
Tags: Assassination, Cold War, Communism, Soviet Union, Leon Trotsky, Political Violence, Stalinism, Exile
1941
Technology
- Polyester Invented (1941)
Polyester is invented by John Rex Whinfield and James Dickson.
Related Links:
Tags: Textiles, Synthetic Materials, Chemistry, Industrial Revolution
Art
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial Completed (1941)
Mount Rushmore construction ends.
Related Links:
Tags: Sculpture, Monument, American History
1942
Art
- Disney's Animated Film Bambi Released (1942)
August 13: Release date of Disney's Bambi.
Tags: Animation, Film, Disney, Cinema, Entertainment, Children's Literature
1943
Science
- Avery's Experiment: DNA Identified as Genetic Material (1943)
Oswald Avery proves that DNA is the genetic material of the chromosome
Related Links:
Tags: Genetics, DNA, Molecular Biology, Biology, Research, Medical Advancements
Technology
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) Founded (1943)
May 15: American Broadcasting Company (ABC) founded in New York City.
Related Links:
Tags: Broadcasting, Television, Mass Media, Communications, Entertainment, Radio
Politics
- José P. Laurel Inaugurated as Philippine President (1943)
October 14: José P. Laurel takes the oath of office as President of the Second Philippine Republic.
Related Links:
Tags: World War II, Presidency, Government, Warfare
1944
Science
- Polio Vaccine Development (1944)
The non-infectious viral vaccine is perfected by Dr. Jonas Salk and Thomas Francis.
Tags: Medicine, Polio, Public Health, Jonas Salk, Medical Breakthrough, Epidemic
Technology
- Colossus Computer Becomes Operational (1944)
June 1: First operational electronic computer, Colossus, comes online.
Tags: World War II, Cryptography, Computer Science, Information Technology, Military Technology
1945
Science
- Willard Libby Begins Radiocarbon Dating Research (1945)
Willard Libby began his work on radiocarbon dating. He published his paper in 1946, a second paper in Science in 1947. Libby and James Arnold succeede...
Related Links:
Tags: Archaeology, Physics, Chemistry, History
- Penicillin Mass Production Begins (1945)
Howard Florey Mass production of penicillin
Related Links:
Tags: Medicine, Antibiotics, World War II, Alexander Fleming, Public Health
Technology
- Microwave Oven Patented and Tested (1945)
October 8: The microwave cooking oven is patented, with the one of the first prototypes placed at a Boston restaurant for testing.
Related Links:
Tags: Consumerism, Modernization
- Percy Spencer Patents Magnetron Microwave Oven (1945)
Percy Spencer, while employed at Raytheon, would patent a magnetron based microwave oven.
Related Links:
Tags: Consumerism
Politics
- Yalta Conference: Allied Leaders Plan Post-War Europe (1945)
February 4 – 11: Yalta Conference.
Related Links:
Tags: World War II, Diplomacy, Allied Powers, Soviet Union, Cold War, Divided Germany, International Relations
- Roosevelt's Death and Truman's Presidential Ascension (1945)
April 12: Death of Franklin D. Roosevelt; Vice President Harry Truman assumes office as President of the United States.
Related Links:
Tags: Presidency, World War II, Succession, Political Transition, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Cold War
- Execution of Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini (1945)
April 28: Execution of Benito Mussolini.
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Tags: World War II, Fascism, Dictatorship, Benito Mussolini, Execution, Political Violence, Axis Powers
- United Nations Founded with UN Charter (1945)
June 26: United Nations founded (UN Charter).
Related Links:
Tags: United Nations, Post-World War II, Diplomacy, Global Governance, Multilateralism, Peacekeeping, World War II, Allied Powers, San Francisco
- Clement Attlee Appointed UK Prime Minister (1945)
July 26: Clement Attlee becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Related Links:
Tags: Prime Minister, Labour Party, Post-War, Socialism
- Potsdam Conference: Division of Europe into Blocs (1945)
July – August: The Potsdam Conference divides Europe into Western and Soviet blocs.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Post-World War II, Geopolitics, Soviet Union, Iron Curtain, International Relations, Winston Churchill
- Indonesia Declares Independence (1945)
August 17: Independence of Indonesia proclaimed beginning the Indonesian National Revolution.
Related Links:
Tags: Independence, Decolonization, Nationalism, Revolution, World War II, Post-War, Sukarno, Dutch East Indies
- Getúlio Vargas Deposed in Brazilian Coup (1945)
October 29: In Brazil, Getúlio Vargas is deposed in a coup.
Related Links:
Tags: Coup d'état, Getúlio Vargas, Military, Dictatorship, Democracy
1946
Science
- First Photographs of Earth from Space (1946)
First images of the Earth taken from space.
Related Links:
Tags: Space Exploration, Photography, Cold War
Technology
- James Martin Invents Ejector Seat (1946)
James Martin invents the ejector seat, inspired by the death of his friend and test pilot Captain Valentine Baker in an aeroplane crash in 1942.
Related Links:
Tags: Aviation, World War II, Military Technology, Safety
Politics
- Jordan Gains Independence from Britain (1946)
March 22: Independence of Jordan.
Tags: Independence, Decolonization, Mandate System, British Empire, Post-World War II, Political Transition, Nation Building
- Italy Abolishes Monarchy, Establishes Republic (1946)
June 2: Italy becomes a republic.
Related Links:
Tags: Republic, Post-War, Political Transition, Democracy, Monarchy, Referendum, Elections
- Bhumibol Adulyadej Ascends to the Thai Throne (1946)
June 9: Bhumibol Adulyadej becomes King of Thailand.
Related Links:
Tags: Monarchy, Thailand, King, Succession, Post-War
- Philippines Granted Independence by the United States (1946)
July 4: The Treaty of Manila declares Philippines independent.
Related Links:
Tags: Decolonization, Post-War, Independence, Treaty
- Kurdistan Democratic Party Founded by Mustafa Barzani (1946)
August 16: Mustafa Barzani founds the Kurdistan Democratic Party.
Related Links:
Tags: Political Parties, Independence Movements, Post-War, Ethnic Conflict, Regional Politics
- Fourth Republic Established in France (1946)
October 27: French Fourth Republic established.
Related Links:
Tags: Post-War, Government, Constitution, European History
1947
Technology
- First Public Demonstration of the Transistor (1947)
November – December: Three Bell Labs engineers give the first public demonstration of the transistor, an electrical component that could control, ampl...
Related Links:
Tags: Electronics, Semiconductors, Bell Labs, Digital Revolution, Microchip, Post-War
- Chuck Yeager Breaks the Sound Barrier (1947)
Breaking of the sound barrier by Chuck Yeager in Bell X-1.
Related Links:
Tags: Aviation, Aerospace, World War II, Cold War
- Holography Invention (1947)
Holography is invented by Dennis Gabor.
Related Links:
Tags: Optics, Photography, Scientific Advancement
- Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Invented (1947)
Floyd Farris and J.B. Clark (Stanolind Oil and Gas Corporation) invents hydraulic fracturing technology.
Related Links:
Tags: Oil Industry, Fossil Fuels, Energy, Petroleum, Resource Extraction
- First Transistor Invented at Bell Labs (1947)
The first transistor, a bipolar point-contact transistor, is invented by John Bardeen and Walter Brattain under the supervision of William Shockley at...
Related Links:
Tags: Electronics, Bell Labs, Semiconductors, Digital Revolution
Politics
- Truman Doctrine Announced: Policy of Containment (1947)
March 12: Harry Truman establishes the Truman Doctrine of containment of Communism.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Communism, Containment, Foreign Policy, Geopolitics, Ideology
- U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Established (1947)
July 26: Creation of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Intelligence, Espionage, National Security, Post-World War II, Covert Operations, Geopolitics, Foreign Policy, CIA
- Independence of India and Pakistan, Partition, and First Indo-Pakistani War Begins (1947)
August 14 – 15: Partition of India. Independence of India and Pakistan and beginning of First Indo-Pakistani War.
Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Partition, British Empire, Post-Colonialism, Religious Conflict, Nationalism
1948
Science
- Soviet Sever-2 Expedition Reaches the North Pole (1948)
April 23: The Soviet Sever-2 expedition become the first party to indisputably set foot on the North Pole.
Related Links:
Tags: Polar Exploration, Arctic, Soviet Union, Cold War, Geopolitics, Scientific Expedition, Exploration
- Claude Shannon Publishes 'A Mathematical Theory of Communication' (1948)
Claude Elwood Shannon: 'A mathematical theory of communication' a seminal paper in Information theory.
Related Links:
Tags: Communication, Mathematics, Digital Revolution, Electronics, Binary Code, Computer Science, Scientific Publication
- Development of Quantum Electrodynamics (1948)
Richard Feynman, Julian Schwinger, Sin-Itiro Tomonaga and Freeman Dyson: Quantum electrodynamics
Tags: Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Theoretical Physics, Electromagnetism, Post-War, Scientific Revolution
Technology
- First Atomic Clock Developed (1948)
The first atomic clock is developed at the National Bureau of Standards.
Related Links:
Tags: Precision, Physics, Scientific Advancement
- Basic Oxygen Steelmaking Developed (1948)
Basic oxygen steelmaking is developed by Robert Durrer. The majority of steel manufactured in the world is produced using the basic oxygen furnace; in...
Related Links:
Tags: Industrial Revolution, Manufacturing, Metallurgy, Global Economy
Politics
- Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi (1948)
January 30: Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.
Related Links:
Tags: Assassination, Independence Movement, Civil Disobedience, Post-Colonialism, Partition of India
- Burma and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) Gain Independence from Britain (1948)
February 4: Independence of Burma and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) from Britain.
Related Links:
Tags: Decolonization, Independence, British Empire, Nationalism, Self-determination, Political Transition, Cold War
- United Nations Establishes State of Israel (1948)
May 14: United Nations establishes Israeli Independence and the formation of the official State of Israel.
Related Links:
Tags: Zionism, United Nations, Independence, Statehood, Partition, Post-World War II, Arab-Israeli Conflict, International Relations
- Formal Establishment of North and South Korea (1948)
August – September: Division of North and South Korea.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Communism, Democracy, United Nations, Korean War, Geopolitics, Post-World War II
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights Adopted (1948)
December 10: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.
Tags: Human Rights, United Nations, International Law, Post-War, Declaration, Civil Rights, Global Governance, International Relations, Equality
- Implementation of Apartheid Laws (1948)
Beginning of apartheid in South Africa.
Related Links:
Tags: Apartheid, Human Rights, Discrimination, Legislation, Colonialism
1949
Science
- Albert II, a Rhesus Monkey, Becomes First Mammal in Space (1949)
June 14: Albert II became the first mammal launched into space
Tags: Space Race, Aeronautics, Cold War, Space Exploration
Politics
- Establishment of the Federal Republic of Germany (1949)
May 23: Creation of NATO-backed Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany).
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, NATO, Post-World War II, Federalism, Western Bloc, Geopolitics, Reconstruction
- People's Republic of China Established; Republic of China Relocates to Taiwan (1949)
October 1: Chinese Communist Revolution: Establishment of the People's Republic of China under CCP Chairman Mao Zedong; The Republic of China relocate...
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Communism, Chinese Communist Party, Mao Zedong, Chinese Civil War, Republic of China, Political Revolution, Post-World War II
- Kashmir's Division Following 1947 War (1949)
Partition of Kashmir.
Tags: Post-Colonialism, Partition, Kashmir, Border Disputes, Cold War, Regional Conflict, Geopolitics, United Nations, Self-determination
Literature
- George Orwell's Novel 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' Published (1949)
June 8: George Orwell publishes Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Related Links:
Tags: Literature, Novel, Totalitarianism, Propaganda, Social Commentary, Cold War, English Literature
1950
Science
- Alan Turing Introduces the Turing Test (1950)
October: Alan Turing publishes the Turing test, one of the most influential yet controversial concepts in artificial intelligence research.
Related Links:
Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Cognitive Science, Global Impact
- Tokamak Fusion Reactor Concept Developed (1950)
The Toroidal chamber with axial magnetic fields (the Tokamak) is developed by Igor E. Tamm and Andrei D. Sakharov.
Related Links:
Tags: Physics, Scientific Innovation, Cold War, Soviet Union
Technology
- Bertie the Brain: Early Computer Game Debuts (1950)
August 25: Bertie the Brain, one of the first computer games, is released.
Related Links:
Tags: Early Computing, Video Games, Artificial Intelligence, Electronics, Entertainment, University
- Bertie the Brain Publicly Demonstrated (1950)
Bertie the Brain, debatably the first video game, is displayed to the public at the Canadian National Exhibition.
Related Links:
Tags: Video Games, Early Computing, Computer Science, Canadian History
Politics
- India's Constitution Takes Effect (1950)
January 26: The Constitution of India comes into effect.
Related Links:
Tags: Constitution, Republic, Post-Colonialism, Independence, Government, Law, Indian National Congress
- 14th Dalai Lama Assumes Full Political Authority (1950)
November 17: Lhamo Dondrub assumes full political powers as the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet.
Related Links:
Tags: Dalai Lama, Tibet, Religious Leadership, Cold War, Exile, Buddhism, Theocracy
- Peoples' World Convention Held in Geneva (1950)
December 30: Peoples' World Convention (PWC) at Palais Electoral, Geneva, Switzerland
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, International Relations, Ideology
Art
- Disney's Cinderella Premieres (1950)
February 15: Release date of Disney's Cinderella.
Related Links:
Tags: Animation, Disney, Film, Cinema, American Culture, Walt Disney
1951
Science
- HeLa Cell Line Propagation (1951)
George Otto Gey propagates first cancer cell line, HeLa
Related Links:
Tags: Biology, Cancer Research, Medical Advancements, Molecular Biology
Politics
- Winston Churchill Appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (Second Term) (1951)
October 26: Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Related Links:
Tags: Prime Minister, Post-War, Cold War, British Politics
Art
- The Day the Earth Stood Still Film Premiere (1951)
September 18: Release date of the acclaimed science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still.
Related Links:
Tags: Film, Science Fiction, Cinema, Cold War, Post-War, Cultural Impact
1952
Science
- Jonas Salk Develops Effective Polio Vaccine (1952)
Development of the first effective polio vaccine by Jonas Salk.
Related Links:
Tags: Medicine, Vaccination, Public Health, Disease Eradication, Jonas Salk, Medical Breakthrough, Infectious Disease, Epidemic
- Miller-Urey Experiment Demonstrates Amino Acid Formation (1952)
Stanley Miller: demonstrated that the building blocks of life could arise from primeval soup in the conditions present during early Earth (Miller-Urey...
Related Links:
Tags: Biochemistry, Evolution, Astrobiology
- Sanger Determines Protein Structure (1952)
Frederick Sanger: demonstrated that proteins are sequences of amino acids
Related Links:
Tags: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Frederick Sanger, Nobel Prize, 20th Century Science, Genetics
Technology
- First Passenger Jet Flight Route: London to Johannesburg (1952)
May 2: The first passenger jet flight route opens between London and Johannesburg.
Related Links:
Tags: Aviation, Jet Age, Transportation, Globalization, Travel
- Float Glass Process Developed (1952)
The float glass process is developed by Alastair Pilkington.
Related Links:
Tags: Manufacturing, Glassmaking, Materials Science, Industrial Revolution, Global Impact
Politics
- Elizabeth II Ascends to the British Throne (1952)
February 6: Queen Elizabeth II becomes Monarch of the Commonwealth realms.
Related Links:
Tags: Monarchy, British Empire, Commonwealth, Succession, Head of State, Elizabeth II, Colonialism
- Allied Occupation of West Germany Formally Ends (1952)
May: Bonn–Paris conventions end allied occupation of West Germany.
Related Links:
Tags: Post-War, Cold War, Occupation, West Germany, International Relations, Sovereignty, Allied Powers
- Egyptian Revolution Overthrows King Farouk (1952)
July 23: Egyptian Revolution under Gamal Abdel Nasser overthrows King Farouk and ends British occupation.
Related Links:
Tags: Revolution, Cold War, Nationalism, Decolonization, British Empire, Monarchy, Political Change
- Show Trial of Rudolf Slánský and other Communist Officials (1952)
The Slansky Trial in Czechoslovakia.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Communism, Czechoslovakia, Stalinism, Eastern Bloc, Purge, Political Repression
1953
Science
- First Successful Summit of Mount Everest (1953)
May 29: First ascent of Mount Everest.
Related Links:
Tags: Exploration, Himalayas, Adventure, Summit
- Discovery of DNA's Double Helix Structure (1953)
James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin: helical structure of DNA, basis for molecular biology
Tags: DNA, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Biology, Cambridge University
Technology
- ABS-CBN Begins Broadcasting (1953)
October 23: ABS-CBN first began broadcasting.
Related Links:
Tags: Broadcasting, Television, Mass Media, Communication
- First Color Television Sets Produced (1953)
The first color television is produced.
Related Links:
Tags: Television, Consumerism, Post-War, Mass Media, Entertainment
- Helical Scan Video Tape Recorder Invented (1953)
The first video tape recorder, a helical scan recorder, is invented by Norikazu Sawazaki.
Related Links:
Tags: Media, Communication, Electronics
Politics
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Inaugurated as U.S. President (1953)
January 20: Dwight D. Eisenhower is inaugurated as President of the United States.
Related Links:
Tags: President, Inauguration, Cold War, Government, Executive Branch
- Death of Soviet Leader Joseph Stalin (1953)
March 5: Death of Stalin.
Tags: Cold War, Soviet Union, Stalinism, Dictatorship, Communist Party, Post-War
- Elizabeth II's Coronation Ceremony (1953)
June 2: Coronation of Elizabeth II.
Related Links:
Tags: Monarchy, British Empire, Commonwealth, Ceremony, Elizabeth II
- East German Uprising, Beria's Execution, and Soviet Power Struggle (1953)
June 16 – 17: An East German Uprising leads to the arrest and execution of Lavrentiy Beria; power struggle begins between Georgy Malenkov and Nikita K...
Tags: Cold War, Soviet Union, East Germany, Rebellion, Political Purge, Nikita Khrushchev, Eastern Bloc
- Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq Overthrown in Coup (1953)
August 19: Mohammed Mossadeq deposed in Iran.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Coup d'état, CIA, Nationalization, Democracy, Oil, Geopolitics
- Cambodia Gains Independence from France (1953)
November 9: Independence of Cambodia.
Related Links:
Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Cold War, Nationalism
1954
Technology
- Soviet Union Achieves First Nuclear Power Electricity (1954)
September 14: The Soviet Union generates first electricity by nuclear power.
Related Links:
Tags: Soviet Union, Cold War, Energy, Atomic Age, USSR
- Invention of the Silicon Solar Cell (1954)
Invention of the solar battery by Bell Telephone scientists, Calvin Souther Fuller, Daryl Chapin and Gerald Pearson capturing the Sun's power. First p...
Related Links:
Tags: Energy, Renewable Energy
Politics
- Supreme Court Rules Against School Segregation in Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
May 17: The Supreme Court of the United States decides Brown v. Board of Education, ordering an end to racial segregation in public schools.
Related Links:
Tags: Civil Rights Movement, Supreme Court, Segregation, Education, Racial Discrimination, Legislation, Equality
Art
- Godzilla Film Premieres in Japan (1954)
November 3: Godzilla is released in Japan.
Related Links:
Tags: Film, Science Fiction, Cinema, Post-War, Cultural Impact
Literature
- J.R.R. Tolkien Publishes The Fellowship of the Ring (1954)
July 29: J. R. R. Tolkien publishes The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume of The Lord of the Rings.
Tags: Novel, British Literature, Literary Influence, Popular Culture
1955
Science
- Salk Polio Vaccine Approved by FDA (1955)
April 12: The Salk polio vaccine having passed large-scale trials earlier in the United States, receives full approval by the Food and Drug Administra...
Related Links:
Tags: Medicine, Vaccination, Public Health, Disease, Polio, Medical Breakthrough, Jonas Salk
- Death of Albert Einstein (1955)
April 18: Death of Albert Einstein.
Related Links:
Tags: Physics, Relativity, Theoretical Physics, Scientific Revolution, Nobel Prize, Atomic Age, Global Impact, Modern Science
- Antimatter First Synthesized (1955)
Antimatter first produced.
Related Links:
Tags: Physics, Particle Physics, Fundamental Particles, Experimental Physics, Discovery
Technology
- Hovercraft Patented by Christopher Cockerell (1955)
The hovercraft is patented by Christopher Cockerell.
Related Links:
Tags: Transportation, Patent
- Malcolm McLean Develops the Intermodal Container (1955)
The intermodal container is developed by Malcom McLean.
Related Links:
Tags: Transportation, Logistics, Shipping, Globalization, Trade, Economy
Politics
- Bandung Conference: Asian-African Nations Unite (1955)
April 18 – 24: Bandung Conference.
Related Links:
Tags: Decolonization, Cold War, International Relations, Diplomacy, Post-Colonialism
- Khrushchev Consolidates Power in the Soviet Union (1955)
After winning the power struggle that followed Stalin's death two years earlier, Nikita Khrushchev assumes control of the Soviet Union.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev, Power Struggle, Communism, USSR
1956
Technology
- IBM Invents the Hard Disk Drive (1956)
The hard disk drive is invented by IBM.
Related Links:
Tags: Computer Science, Data Storage, Information Technology, IBM, Hardware, Computing
- Logic Theorist Computer Program Developed (1956)
The Logic Theorist computer program, the first "artificial intelligence program", was written and invented by Allen Newell, Herbert A. Simon, and Clif...
Related Links:
Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Automation
Politics
- Sudan Gains Independence from Britain (1956)
January 1: Independence of Sudan from Britain.
Related Links:
Tags: Decolonization, Independence Movements, British Empire, Post-Colonialism, Self-determination, Political Transition, Nationalism
- United States Recognizes Moroccan Independence (1956)
March 7: The United States recognises Morocco's independence from France
Related Links:
Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Foreign Relations, Cold War, Post-Colonialism, Diplomacy
- Pakistan Declared a Republic (1956)
March 23: Pakistan becomes a republic.
Related Links:
Tags: Republic, Post-Colonialism, Political Transition, Independence, Government, Cold War
- Suez Canal Nationalization and Crisis (1956)
October 29 – November 7: Nasser's nationalisation of the Suez Canal triggers the Suez crisis.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Nationalization, Decolonization, Middle East Conflict, Suez Canal, International Relations, Imperialism, United Nations
- Brasília Construction Begins (1956)
Construction of Brasília, the new capital of Brazil to replace Rio de Janeiro, begins.
Related Links:
Tags: Urban Planning, Capital City, Modernism, Brazilian History, Architecture
1957
Science
- Soviet Union Launches Sputnik 1 (1957)
October 4: Launch of Sputnik 1 and the beginning of the Space Age.
Tags: Space Race, Cold War, Soviet Union, Scientific Advancement, Space Exploration, Satellite, Geopolitics
- Soviet Union Launches Laika into Orbit (1957)
November 3: Laika becomes the first animal launched into Earth orbit.
Related Links:
Tags: Space Race, Soviet Union, Cold War, Space Exploration, Scientific Advancement
- First Prescription of Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill (1957)
First prescription of the combined oral contraceptive pill.
Related Links:
Tags: Medicine, Pharmaceuticals, Women's Rights, Social Change
- Wu's Experiment Reveals Parity Violation in Weak Interactions (1957)
Chien Shiung Wu: demonstrated that parity, and thus charge conjugation and time-reversals, are violated for weak interactions
Tags: Physics, Particle Physics, Experimental Physics, Quantum Mechanics, 20th Century Science
Technology
- Boeing 707 Makes Maiden Flight (1957)
December 20: First flight of the Boeing 707.
Related Links:
Tags: Aviation, Commercial Aviation, Jet Age, Air Travel, Transportation
- Laser and Optical Amplifier Invented (1957)
The laser and optical amplifier are invented and named by Gordon Gould and Charles Townes. The laser and optical amplifier are foundational to powerin...
Related Links:
Tags: Laser, Internet, Communication
- IBM 610: The First Keyboard-Controlled Personal Computer (1957)
The first personal computer used by one person and controlled by a keyboard, the IBM 610, is invented by IBM.
Related Links:
Tags: Computer Science, Personal Computer, IBM, Computing
- Soviet Union Launches Sputnik 1, First Artificial Satellite (1957)
The first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, is launched.
Tags: Space Race, Soviet Union, Cold War, Space Exploration, Satellite, Geopolitics
Politics
- Harold Macmillan Appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1957)
January 10: Harold Macmillan becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Related Links:
Tags: Prime Minister, Cold War, British Empire, Conservative Party
- Ghana Gains Independence from British Rule (1957)
March 6: Independence of Ghana from Britain.
Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Post-Colonialism, British Empire, Nationalism, Self-determination, Cold War
- Formation of the European Economic Community (1957)
March 25: Treaty of Rome, which would eventually lead to the European Union.
Related Links:
Tags: European Union, European Integration, Post-War, International Relations, Treaty, Economic Cooperation
- Federation of Malaya Achieves Independence (1957)
August 31: Independence of the Federation of Malaya.
Related Links:
Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Malaysia, British Empire, Cold War, Nationalism, Post-Colonialism
1958
Science
- NASA Established (1958)
July 29: NASA formed.
Tags: Space Exploration, Space Race, Cold War, Scientific Advancement, Astronauts
Technology
- Federal Aviation Administration Established (1958)
August 23: Federal Aviation Administration formed.
Related Links:
Tags: Aviation, Transportation, Air Travel, Infrastructure, Safety
- Invention of the Optical Disc and Cassette Tape (1958)
Invention of the optical disc and the cassette tape.
Related Links:
Tags: Inventions, Audio Technology, Data Storage, Electronics, Consumer Goods, Entertainment, Philips, Music Industry
Politics
- May 1958 Crisis: Political Turmoil in France (1958)
May: May 1958 crisis in France.
Related Links:
Tags: Political Crisis, Government Instability, Charles de Gaulle, Post-War
- Guinea Declares Independence from France (1958)
October 2: Guinea gains independence from France.
Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Post-Colonialism, French Empire, Political Transition, Nationalism, Cold War, Pan-Africanism
- French Fifth Republic Established (1958)
October 4: French Fifth Republic established, with Charles de Gaulle as its first President.
Related Links:
Tags: Charles de Gaulle, Government, Constitution
- Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) Founded and Peace Sign Debut (1958)
November: Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) founded. CND's symbol, the peace sign, is first used.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Peace, Activism, Protest
1959
Science
- Luna 3 Transmits First Photos of the Moon's Far Side (1959)
October 7: The USSR probe Luna 3 sends back the first ever photos of the far side of the Moon.
Related Links:
Tags: Space Exploration, Cold War, Soviet Union, Moon, Astronomy, Space Race
- Earliest Known AIDS Case Identified (1959)
First documented AIDS cases.
Related Links:
Tags: Epidemiology, Disease, Medical History, Infectious Diseases, HIV, Public Health, Global Health
Technology
- MOSFET Transistor Invention (1959)
The MOSFET (MOS transistor) is invented by the Egyptian Mohamed Atalla and the Korean Dawon Kahng at Bell Labs. It is used in almost all modern electr...
Related Links:
Tags: Electronics, Bell Labs, Computer Revolution, Microchip
Politics
- Fidel Castro's Forces Seize Power in Cuba (1959)
January 1: Cuban Revolution ends.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Revolution, Communism, Dictatorship, Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, Political Change
- Alaska Admitted as the 49th US State (1959)
January 3: Admission of Alaska, the 49th state, into the United States.
Tags: Alaska, Statehood, American Expansion, Cold War
- Cyprus Achieves Independence (1959)
February 19: Independence of Cyprus.
Related Links:
Tags: Independence, Decolonization, Cold War, Post-Colonialism, Ethnic Conflict, Self-determination, British Empire
- Tibetan Uprising and Dalai Lama's Exile (1959)
March 10 – 23: Uprising in Tibet against China leads to the exile of the Dalai Lama.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Tibet, Dalai Lama, Exile, Religious Violence, Political Conflict, Buddhism, Human Rights
1960
Science
- First Manned Descent to the Mariana Trench (1960)
January 22: First crewed descent to the deepest point on Earth, the Mariana Trench.
Related Links:
Tags: Exploration, Oceanography, Cold War, United States Navy
- Birth Control Pill Commercialized (1960)
May 9: The birth control pill becomes commercially available.
Related Links:
Tags: Reproductive Rights, Feminism, Pharmaceuticals, Medicine, Social Change
Technology
- First Laser Constructed (1960)
May 16: Construction of the first laser.
Tags: Laser, Physics, Optics, Quantum Mechanics
- Theodore Maiman Invents the First Laser (1960)
The first functioning laser is invented by Theodore Maiman.
Related Links:
Tags: Laser, Physics, Scientific Breakthrough, Optics, Global Impact
Politics
- Sharpeville Massacre: South African Police Open Fire on Protesters (1960)
March 21: The Sharpeville Massacre, in which the police opened fire against a protesting crowd at a police station in the South African township of Sh...
Related Links:
Tags: Apartheid, Human Rights, Protest, Police Brutality, Anti-Apartheid Movement, Massacre
- Brasília, Brazil's New Capital, Completed (1960)
April 21: Construction of Brasília, Brazil's new capital, finished.
Tags: Urban Planning, Capital City, Modernism, Political Development, Architecture, Construction, Government
- U-2 Spy Plane Shot Down Over Soviet Territory (1960)
May 1: 1960 U-2 incident sparks deterioration in relations between superpowers.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Espionage, Soviet Union, Diplomacy, Intelligence, Arms Race, International Relations, Khrushchev
- Sirimavo Bandaranaike Elected Prime Minister (1960)
Sirimavo Bandaranaike becomes Prime Minister of Ceylon and the first female Prime Minister in the world.
Related Links:
Tags: Prime Minister, Ceylon, Political Leadership, Post-Colonialism, Cold War
- Japanese Socialist Politician Inejiro Asanuma Assassinated on Television (1960)
October 12: Inejiro Asanuma, a Japanese socialist politician, is assassinated during a broadcast on TV.
Related Links:
Tags: Assassination, Political Violence, Socialism, Cold War, Post-War
- First Televised Presidential Debates (1960)
November 8: The 1960 United States presidential election marks the first televised debates between presidential candidates.
Related Links:
Tags: Presidential Election, Television, Media, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon
- Year of African Independence: 17 Nations Gain Freedom (1960)
Year of Africa: Independence of 17 African nations.
Related Links:
Tags: Decolonization, Independence Movements, Cold War, Pan-Africanism, Post-Colonialism, Nationalism, Political Transition, Self-determination, African History
- Khrushchev Initiates Sino-Soviet Split (1960)
Khrushchev withdraws Soviet cooperation with China, initiating the Sino-Soviet split.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Communism, Soviet Union, Ideology, Geopolitics, Khrushchev, Mao Zedong, International Relations, Political Division
1961
Science
- Yuri Gagarin's Vostok 1 Flight: First Human in Space (1961)
April 12: Yuri Gagarin, flying the Vostok 1 spacecraft as part of the Vostok program, becomes the first human in space.
Related Links:
Tags: Space Exploration, Space Race, Cold War, Soviet Union, Astronautics, Scientific Achievement
- Kennedy Announces Moon Landing Goal (1961)
May 25: In an address to Congress, John F. Kennedy declares the United States' objective of "landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the...
Tags: Space Race, Cold War, John F. Kennedy, Exploration
Politics
- Assassination of Patrice Lumumba Triggers Congo Crisis (1961)
January 17: The assassination of Patrice Lumumba begins the Congo Crisis.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Decolonization, African History, Political Assassination, Proxy War, United Nations
- John F. Kennedy Inaugurated as U.S. President (1961)
January 20: John F. Kennedy is inaugurated as President of the United States.
Related Links:
Tags: Presidency, Cold War, John F. Kennedy, American History, Leadership, Democracy, Inauguration
- Berlin Wall Construction Begins (1961)
August 13: Construction of the Berlin Wall.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, East Germany, West Germany, Berlin, Iron Curtain, Divided Germany, Political Division, Communism, Soviet Union
1962
Science
- Discovery of Scorpius X-1, the First Cosmic X-Ray Source (1962)
Riccardo Giacconi and his team discover the first cosmic x-ray source, Scorpius X-1
Related Links:
Tags: Astronomy, Astrophysics, Cosmology, Space Exploration, Observational Astronomy
Politics
- Algerian Independence Achieved (1962)
March 19: The Algerian War ends with the independence of Algeria.
Related Links:
Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Nationalism, Cold War, Post-Colonialism, Charles de Gaulle
1963
Science
- Vine-Matthews-Morley Hypothesis Explains Seafloor Magnetic Anomalies (1963)
Lawrence Morley, Fred Vine, and Drummond Matthews: Paleomagnetic stripes in ocean crust as evidence of plate tectonics (Vine–Matthews–Morley hypothes...
Related Links:
Tags: Geology, Geophysics, Oceanography, Scientific Revolution, Earth Science
Technology
- Syncom 2: First Geostationary Satellite Launched (1963)
July 26: Launch of the first geostationary satellite, Syncom 2.
Related Links:
Tags: Space Race, Telecommunications, Cold War, Space Exploration, Communication
- Invention of the First Electronic Cigarette (1963)
The first electronic cigarette is created by Herbert A. Gilbert. Hon Lik is often credited with its invention as he developed the modern electronic ci...
Related Links:
Tags: Public Health, Consumerism
Politics
- Assassination of South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem (1963)
November 2: 1963 South Vietnamese coup: Arrest and assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem, the South Vietnamese President.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Vietnam War, Coup d'état, Political Assassination, South Vietnam, Anti-Communism, Proxy Wars
- Assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Presidential Succession (1963)
November 22: Assassination of John F. Kennedy. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson assumes office as President of the United States.
Tags: Assassination, Presidency, Cold War, Political Violence, Lyndon B. Johnson, John F. Kennedy, American History
- Kenya and Zanzibar Gain Independence; Malaysia Established (1963)
December 10 – 12: Independence of Kenya and Zanzibar and creation of Malaysia.
Related Links:
Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Post-Colonialism, Nationalism, British Empire, Cold War, Kenya, Malaysia, Self-determination
Art
- Astro Boy Anime Premieres Overseas (1963)
January 1: Premiere of the Astro Boy anime, the first to be broadcast overseas.
Tags: Animation, Television, Children's Entertainment
- The Beatles Release "Please Please Me" (1963)
March 22: The Beatles' first record, "Please Please Me", and the beginnings of the British Invasion.
Related Links:
Tags: Music, Popular Culture, British Invasion, Rock and Roll, The Beatles, Cultural Exchange, Entertainment Industry, Youth Culture
- Bob Dylan Releases 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan' (1963)
May 27: Bob Dylan releases The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.
Related Links:
Tags: Music, Folk Music, Cultural Impact, American Culture, Album Release
1964
Science
- Mariner 4 Space Probe Launched Toward Mars (1964)
November 28: NASA launches the Mariner 4 space probe from Cape Kennedy toward Mars to take television pictures of that planet in July 1965.
Related Links:
Tags: Space Exploration, NASA, Mars, Space Race, Planetary Science, Cold War, Astronomy
- Gell-Mann and Zweig Propose Quarks (1964)
Murray Gell-Mann and George Zweig: postulates quarks, leading to the standard model
Related Links:
Tags: Physics, Particle Physics, Standard Model, Theoretical Physics
- Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson Detect Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (1964)
Arno Penzias and Robert Woodrow Wilson: detection of CMBR providing experimental evidence for the Big Bang
Related Links:
Tags: Cosmology, Radio Astronomy, Astrophysics, Experimental Physics
Technology
- Shinkansen High-Speed Rail Inaugurated (1964)
Shinkansen, the first high-speed rail commercial passenger service.
Related Links:
Tags: Transportation, Railroad, Infrastructure, Economic Development
Politics
- Zanzibar Revolution and Tanzanian Union (1964)
January 12: Zanzibar Revolution overthrows Afro Shiraz ruling class; Zanzibar merges with Tanganyika to form Tanzania.
Related Links:
Tags: Decolonization, Revolution, Pan-Africanism, Political Instability, Post-colonial Africa
- Military Coup in Brazil Establishes Dictatorship (1964)
March 31 – April 1: A coup d'état establishes a military dictatorship in Brazil.
Tags: Military Coup, Dictatorship, Cold War, Political Instability, Authoritarianism, Coup d'état
- Civil Rights Act Enacted, Ending Segregation (1964)
July 2: Civil Rights Act abolishes segregation in the USA.
Related Links:
Tags: Civil Rights Movement, Segregation, Legislation, Equality, Discrimination, Social Justice, African Americans, Voting Rights, Lyndon B. Johnson
- Malawi Gains Independence (1964)
July 6: Independence of Malawi.
Tags: Independence, Decolonization, African History, Post-Colonialism, Nationalism, British Empire, Cold War
- Brezhnev Succeeds Khrushchev as Soviet Leader (1964)
October 14: Leonid Brezhnev ousts Khrushchev and assumes power in the Soviet Union.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Soviet Union, Leadership Change, Khrushchev, USSR, Communist Party
1965
Science
- Hayflick Limit Discovered (1965)
Leonard Hayflick: normal cells divide only a certain number of times: the Hayflick limit
Related Links:
Tags: Biology, Cell Biology, Aging, Research, Genetics
Technology
- Rede Globo Television Network Founded (1965)
April 26: Establishment of Rede Globo, now the largest TV network in Brazil and Latin America and the second-largest in the world after ABC.
Related Links:
Tags: Television, Mass Media, Communications, Media, Cultural Impact, Business
- Kevlar Invented by Stephanie Kwolek (1965)
Kevlar is invented by Stephanie Kwolek at DuPont.
Related Links:
Tags: Materials Science, Military Technology, Manufacturing, Chemical Engineering
Politics
- Death of Winston Churchill (1965)
January 24: Death of Winston Churchill.
Related Links:
Tags: World War II, Cold War, British Empire, Prime Minister, Leadership, Legacy
- Voting Rights Act Enacted (1965)
March 17: The Voting Rights Act of 1965, inspired by the Selma to Montgomery marches.
Tags: Civil Rights, Voting Rights, Legislation, African Americans, Equality, Social Justice, Civil Rights Movement
- Singapore Achieves Independence (1965)
August 9: Singapore gains independence.
Tags: Independence, Decolonization, Cold War, Nation Building, Post-Colonialism, Self-determination
- Coup Attempt and Anti-Communist Purge in Indonesia (1965)
September 30: 30 September Movement in the Indonesia.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Anti-Communism, Coup, Purge, Sukarno, Human Rights, Mass Violence
- Mobutu Seizes Power in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1965)
November 24 – 25: Congo Crisis ends; Joseph Mobutu becomes dictator of the Congo.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Dictatorship, Military Coup, Zaire, Post-Colonialism, African Politics, Political Instability, Authoritarianism
- Ferdinand Marcos Inaugurated as President of the Philippines (1965)
December 30: Ferdinand Marcos becomes President of the Philippines.
Related Links:
Tags: Presidency, Cold War, Authoritarianism, Government
Art
- Bob Dylan Releases 'Highway 61 Revisited' (1965)
August 30: Bob Dylan releases Highway 61 Revisited.
Related Links:
Tags: Music, Folk Music, Rock and Roll, Album Release, Cultural Impact, American Culture
1966
Technology
- Joseph Weizenbaum Develops the ELIZA Chatbot (1966)
Joseph Weizenbaum, a German computer scientist at MIT, completes ELIZA, the first chatbot.
Related Links:
Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Natural Language Processing, Software Development
Politics
- Botswana Gains Independence (1966)
September 30: Independence of Botswana.
Related Links:
Tags: Independence, Decolonization, African History, Post-Colonialism, Commonwealth, Self-determination
Art
- Death of Walt Disney (1966)
December 15: Death of Walt Disney.
Related Links:
Tags: Animation, Film, Entertainment, Media, Entrepreneurship, Disney, Popular Culture, American Culture
1967
Science
- Discovery of the First Pulsar (1967)
Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Antony Hewish discover first pulsar
Related Links:
Tags: Astronomy, Astrophysics, Radio Astronomy, Cosmology, 20th Century Science, Cambridge University
- First Gamma-Ray Burst Detected by Vela Satellites (1967)
Vela nuclear test detection satellites discover the first gamma-ray burst
Related Links:
Tags: Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Exploration, Cold War, Particle Physics
Technology
- First High-Speed Rail Service Launched in Tokyo (1967)
First high-speed rail introduced in Tokyo.
Related Links:
Tags: Transportation, Infrastructure, Modernization, Economy
Politics
- Greek Military Junta Takes Power (1967)
April 21: Greek military coup establishes a military dictatorship led by Georgios Papadopoulos. The dictatorship ends in 1974.
Related Links:
Tags: Military Dictatorship, Coup d'état, Cold War, Political Instability, Authoritarianism, Human Rights
- ASEAN Founding (1967)
August 8: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) founded.
Related Links:
Tags: Regionalism, International Relations, Cold War, Political Cooperation, Economic Development, Diplomacy, Post-Colonialism
- Anti-Vietnam War March on the Pentagon (1967)
October 21: The March on the Pentagon becomes a major event in public opposition to the Vietnam War
Tags: Vietnam War, Anti-War Movement, Protest, Civil Rights Movement, Social Activism, Political Dissent, United States History, Lyndon B. Johnson
Art
- Death of Jazz Musician John Coltrane (1967)
July 17: Death of John Coltrane, American jazz saxophonist, clarinettist and composer.
Related Links:
Tags: Music, American Culture, Composer
- The Beatles Release Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
May 26: The Beatles release their landmark album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Related Links:
Tags: Music, Rock and Roll, Pop Culture, The Beatles, Album, British Invasion, Cultural Revolution, Artistic Innovation
1968
Science
- Zond 5 Mission: First Lifeforms to Orbit the Moon (1968)
September – Zond 5 travels to the Moon with the first lifeforms to reach Earth's satellite
Related Links:
Tags: Space Exploration, Soviet Union, Cold War, Space Race, Moon, Biology, Astronautics, Scientific Advancement
Technology
- Apollo 8 Orbits the Moon (1968)
December – Apollo 8 orbits the Moon with three NASA astronauts, becoming the first human spaceflight mission to enter the gravitational influence of a...
Related Links:
Tags: Space Exploration, NASA, Cold War, Space Race, Astronauts, Moon, Human Spaceflight
Politics
- Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (1968)
April 4: Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Related Links:
Tags: Civil Rights Movement, Assassination, African Americans, Equality, Social Justice, Martin Luther King Jr., Nonviolent Resistance, Racial Discrimination
- Assassination of US Senator Robert F. Kennedy (1968)
June 5: Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy
Related Links:
Tags: Assassination, Civil Rights Movement, Presidential Election, Political Violence, Social Upheaval
- Chicago Police Clash with Protesters at Democratic National Convention (1968)
August 23: 1968 Democratic National Convention protests ("The whole world is watching")
Tags: Protests, Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movement, Chicago, Police Brutality, Political Polarization, Counterculture, Social Activism
- First World Constituent Assembly Held (1968)
August 27: First World Constituent Assembly, took place in Interlaken, Switzerland and Wolfach, Germany
Tags: International Cooperation, Switzerland, Ideology, Activism, Social Movements
- Swaziland Achieves Independence from Britain (1968)
September 6: Swaziland gains independence from Great Britain
Related Links:
Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Post-Colonialism, British Empire, Self-determination, Sovereignty
- Italian Years of Lead Begin (1968)
The Years of Lead, a period of social turmoil, political violence, and upheaval in Italy, begin.
Related Links:
Tags: Political Violence, Terrorism, Social Unrest, Cold War, Political Instability
1969
Science
- Apollo 11 Moon Landing: Armstrong and Aldrin Walk on the Moon (1969)
July 20: Apollo 11 Moon landing, in which Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first two humans on the Moon.
Related Links:
Tags: Space Exploration, Cold War, Space Race, NASA, Astronauts, Lunar Exploration
Technology
- Concorde 001 Makes Maiden Flight (1969)
March 2: Concorde 001 flies from the first time, from Toulouse, piloted by André Turcat.
Related Links:
Tags: Aviation, Aerospace, Transportation
- ARPANET Established (1969)
October 29: Creation of Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET), the earliest incarnation of the Internet.
Related Links:
Tags: Internet, Computer Science, Networking, Information Technology, Digital Revolution, Cold War, Development, Communication
- ARPANET and NPL Implement Packet Switching (1969)
The NPL network followed by the ARPANET implement packet switching for data communication, drawing on the concepts and designs of Donald Davies, and P...
Tags: Internet, Information Technology, Digital Revolution
Politics
- Richard Nixon Inaugurated as U.S. President (1969)
January 20: Richard Nixon is inaugurated as President of the United States.
Related Links:
Tags: Presidential Inauguration, Cold War, Richard Nixon, American History, Executive Branch
- De Gaulle Resigns Following Referendum Defeat (1969)
April 28: Charles de Gaulle resigns as President of France after a referendum on political reform is voted down.
Related Links:
Tags: Presidency, Referendum, Political Reform, Charles de Gaulle, European Politics, Resignation
- Gaddafi Coup Overthrows Libyan Monarchy (1969)
September 1: Muammar Gaddafi overthrows King Idris of Libya in a Coup d'état and establishes the Libyan Arab Republic.
Tags: Coup d'état, Revolution, Dictatorship, Pan-Arabism, Cold War, Muammar Gaddafi, Post-Colonialism, Political Transition
1970
Science
- Ra II Papyrus Boat Arrives in Barbados (1970)
July 12: Thor Heyerdahl's papyrus boat Ra II arrived in Barbados, bringing an end to its 3,200 mi (5,100 km) journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
Related Links:
Tags: Exploration, Archaeology, Oceanography
Technology
- Maiden Flight of the Boeing 747 (1970)
January 22: Maiden flight of the Boeing 747.
Related Links:
Tags: Aviation, Commercial Aviation, Transportation, Aerospace, Jet Age, Globalization
- Apollo 13 Mission Launched (1970)
April 11: Apollo 13 (Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, Jack Swigert) is launched toward the Moon.
Related Links:
Tags: Space Exploration, NASA, Moon Landing, Cold War, Space Race, Astronauts
- Airbus Consortium Officially Formed (1970)
December 18: Establishment of Airbus.
Related Links:
Tags: Aviation, Aerospace, European Union, International Cooperation, Manufacturing, Economic Development
- Invention of the Pocket Calculator (1970)
The pocket calculator is invented.
Related Links:
Tags: Electronics, Computing, Mathematics, Consumer Goods
- Public-Key Cryptography Concept Proposed (1970)
James H. Ellis proposed the possibility of "non-secret encryption", more commonly termed public-key cryptography, a concept that would be implemented ...
Tags: Cryptography, Computer Science, Mathematics, Internet
Politics
- First Quarter Storm Protests in the Philippines (1970)
January 26 – March 17: First Quarter Storm civil unrest in the Philippines.
Related Links:
Tags: Protests, Civil Unrest, Student Movements, Political Activism, Martial Law, Social Justice
- Chicago Seven Acquitted of Conspiracy Charges (1970)
February 18: The Chicago Seven are found not guilty of conspiring to incite riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
Tags: Vietnam War, Anti-War Movement, Civil Rights, Protest, Activism, Legal System
- Non-Proliferation Treaty Ratified (1970)
March 5: Ratification of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Tags: Nuclear Weapons, Arms Control, Cold War, Treaty, International Relations, Nuclear Proliferation, Global Security
- FLQ Crisis and War Measures Act (1970)
October – December: FLQ seizes hostages, causing Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau of Canada to issue the War Measures Act.
Tags: Terrorism, Political Violence, Separatism, Hostage Crisis
- Anwar Sadat Assumes Presidency of Egypt (1970)
October 15: Anwar Sadat becomes President of Egypt.
Related Links:
Tags: Leadership, President, Cold War, Arab World
- December 1970 Polish Workers' Protests (1970)
December 14 – 19: 1970 Polish protests.
Related Links:
Tags: Protests, Workers' Rights, Communism, Eastern Bloc, Polish People's Republic, Political Repression
1971
Science
- Discovery of Place Cells in the Brain (1971)
Place cells in the brain are discovered by John O'Keefe
Related Links:
Tags: Cognitive Science, Memory, 20th Century Science
Technology
- Intel Releases the First Microprocessor (1971)
November 15: Intel releases the world's first microprocessor, the Intel 4004.
Related Links:
Tags: Computer Revolution, Computing, Electronics
- Intel 4004 Microprocessor Invented (1971)
The first single-chip microprocessor, the Intel 4004, is invented. Its development was led by Federico Faggin, using his silicon-gate MOS technology. ...
Tags: Computer Science, Digital Revolution, Personal Computer, Electronics
- Salyut 1: The First Space Station (1971)
The first space station, Salyut 1, is launched.
Related Links:
Tags: Space Exploration, Space Race, Cold War, Soviet Union, Space Station, Astronomy
- IBM Develops and Releases First Floppy Disk and Drive (1971)
IBM developed and released the world's first floppy disk and disk drive.
Related Links:
Tags: Computers, IBM, Data Storage, Hardware, Digital Revolution
Politics
- Idi Amin's Coup d'état in Uganda (1971)
January 25: Idi Amin seizes power in Uganda.
Related Links:
Tags: Military Coup, Dictatorship, Cold War, Idi Amin, Political Instability, Post-Colonialism, Uganda
- Voting Age Lowered to 18 in the United States (1971)
July 5: The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, formally certified by President Richard Nixon, lowers the voting age from 21 to ...
Tags: United States Constitution, Voting Rights, Civil Rights, Richard Nixon, Legislation
- Mobutu Renames Republic of the Congo as Zaire (1971)
October 27: Joseph Mobutu renames The Republic of the Congo Zaire.
Related Links:
Tags: Decolonization, Dictatorship, Cold War, African History, Post-Colonialism, Mobutu Sese Seko, Nationalism, Political Transition, Zaire
- COINTELPRO Officially Discontinued (1971)
COINTELPRO officially ends.
Related Links:
Tags: FBI, Surveillance, Political Repression, Civil Rights Movement, Activism, Cold War, Intelligence, Covert Operations
1972
Technology
- Pong Arcade Game Released (1972)
November 29: The arcade game Pong, the first commercially successful video game, is released.
Related Links:
Tags: Video Games, Entertainment, Commercialization, Computer Science
- Magnavox Odyssey: First Home Video Game Console Released (1972)
The first video game console, used primarily for playing video games on a TV, is the Magnavox Odyssey.
Related Links:
Tags: Video Games, Home Entertainment, Consumer Electronics, Entertainment, Digital Revolution
Politics
- Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Returns to Bangladesh (1972)
January: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returns to Bangladesh from imprisonment in Pakistan.
Related Links:
Tags: Independence, Post-Colonialism, Nation Building
- Nixon's Historic Visit to China (1972)
February 21 – 28: U.S. President Richard M. Nixon makes an unprecedented 8-day visit to the People's Republic of China and meets with Mao Zedong.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Diplomacy, Mao Zedong, Detente, Foreign Policy
- SALT I Treaty and ABM Treaty Signed in Moscow (1972)
May 26: Richard Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT I treaty in Moscow, as well as the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and other agreements.
Tags: Cold War, Nuclear Arms Race, Arms Control, Richard Nixon, Treaty, International Relations, Diplomacy
Art
- First Computer Animated Hand Released (1972)
Release of A Computer Animated Hand, one of the first ever computer animations.
Related Links:
Tags: Early Computing, Animation, Visual Arts, Art History
1973
Science
- Pioneer 10 Sends First Close-Up Jupiter Images (1973)
December 3: Pioneer 10 sends back the first close-up images of Jupiter.
Related Links:
Tags: Space Exploration, Astronomy, Jupiter, NASA, Planetary Science, Space Race
Technology
- Sears Tower Construction Completed (1973)
May 3: Construction of the Sears Tower (later renamed to Willis Tower) completed.
Related Links:
Tags: Architecture, Skyscrapers, Modernism, Urban Development, Construction, Chicago, Economy
- Skylab Space Station Launched (1973)
May 14: The first space station, Skylab, is launched.
Related Links:
Tags: Space Exploration, Space Race, Cold War, NASA, Astronauts, Space Station, Scientific Advancement
- Optelecom Develops First Fiber Optic Communication Systems (1973)
The first fiber optic communication systems were developed by Optelecom.
Related Links:
Tags: Telecommunications, Digital Revolution
- Xerox Alto Introduces First Commercial GUI (1973)
The first commercial graphical user interface is introduced in 1973 on the Xerox Alto. The modern GUI is later popularized by the Xerox Star and Apple...
Related Links:
Tags: Computer Science, Software, Personal Computing, Digital Revolution
- Capacitive Touchscreen Developed at CERN (1973)
The first capacitive touchscreen is developed at CERN.
Related Links:
Tags: Computing, CERN, Electronics
Politics
- Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom Join the European Economic Community (1973)
January 1: Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom joins the European Communities.
Tags: European Integration, Post-War, Cold War, International Relations, Trade, Expansion
- Supreme Court Legalizes Abortion Nationwide (1973)
January 22: The Supreme Court of the United States decides Roe v. Wade.
Related Links:
Tags: Supreme Court, Reproductive Rights, Legal History, Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Gender Equality, Social Change
- Chilean Military Coup (1973)
September 11: 1973 Chilean coup d'état.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Coup d'état, Military Dictatorship, Socialism, Democracy, Human Rights
Art
- Pink Floyd Releases 'The Dark Side of the Moon' in the UK (1973)
March 1: Pink Floyd's album The Dark Side of the Moon is released in the UK.
Related Links:
Tags: Music, Album Release, Cultural Impact, Music Industry
1974
Science
- Mariner 10 Sends First Close-Up Images of Mercury, Terracotta Army Discovery (1974)
March 29: First close-up images of Mercury by Mariner 10. The Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang is discovered at Xi'an, China.
Tags: Space Exploration, Archaeology, Planetary Science, Qin Dynasty, Astronomy, Cultural Heritage, Celestial Bodies
- Discovery of Australopithecus afarensis Fossil "Lucy" (1974)
November 24: Discovery of "Lucy" (Australopithecus afarensis) in Tanzania's Olduvai Gorge.
Related Links:
Tags: Paleontology, Anthropology, Human Evolution, Fossil Discovery
- Discovery of Indirect Evidence for Gravitational Waves in a Binary Pulsar (1974)
Russell Alan Hulse and Joseph Hooton Taylor, Jr. discover indirect evidence for gravitational wave radiation in the Hulse–Taylor binary
Related Links:
Tags: Physics, Astrophysics, Relativity, Gravitational Waves, Radio Astronomy, 20th Century Science
Technology
- TCP Protocol Proposed by Cerf and Kahn (1974)
The Transmission Control Program is proposed by Vinton Cerf and Robert E. Kahn, building on the work of Louis Pouzin and other Internet pioneers, crea...
Related Links:
Tags: Internet, Computer Science, Networking, Information Technology, Communication, Digital Revolution
- Invention of the Lithium-Ion Battery (1974)
The lithium-ion battery is invented by M. Stanley Whittingham, and further developed in the 1980s and 1990s by John B. Goodenough, Rachid Yazami and A...
Related Links:
Tags: Consumer Electronics, Electric Vehicles
- Rubik's Cube Invented (1974)
The Rubik's cube is invented by Ernő Rubik which went on to be the best selling puzzle ever.
Related Links:
Tags: Popular Culture, Recreation, Intellectual Property
Politics
- Carnation Revolution Begins Democratic Transition in Portugal (1974)
April 25: Carnation Revolution in Portugal begins transition to democracy.
Related Links:
Tags: Revolution, Democracy, Political Transition, Cold War, Authoritarianism, Colonialism, Military Coup
- Nixon Resigns, Ford Becomes President (1974)
August 8 – 9: Watergate scandal: Resignation of Richard Nixon; Vice President Gerald Ford assumes office as President of the United States, the first ...
Tags: Presidency, Resignation, Impeachment, Richard Nixon, Political Scandal, American Politics
1975
Technology
- Altair 8800 Personal Computer Released (1975)
January: Altair 8800, the first commercially successful personal computer, is released.
Related Links:
Tags: Personal Computer, Digital Revolution, Software, Hardware, Electronics
- Microsoft Founded (1975)
April 4: Microsoft founded in Albuquerque, New Mexico, by Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
Tags: Software, Personal Computing, Entrepreneurship, Digital Revolution
Politics
- Indian Prime Minister Declares State of Emergency (1975)
June 25: Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declares a state of emergency in India, suspending civil liberties and elections.
Related Links:
Tags: Authoritarianism, Civil Liberties, Political Crisis, Democracy, Human Rights, Indian Politics, Political Repression
- Helsinki Accords Signed (1975)
August 1: The Helsinki Accords, which officially recognize Europe's national borders and respect for human rights, are signed in Finland.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Human Rights, Detente, International Relations, Soviet Union, Diplomacy
- Death of Spanish Dictator Francisco Franco (1975)
November 20: Death of Francisco Franco.
Related Links:
Tags: Dictatorship, Authoritarianism, Political Transition, Democratization
- Juan Carlos I Ascends to the Spanish Throne (1975)
November 22: Juan Carlos I becomes King of Spain.
Related Links:
Tags: Monarchy, Political Transition, Constitutional Monarchy
1976
Technology
- Apple I Computer Invented and Company Founded (1976)
April 1: Steve Wozniak invents the Apple I and Steve Jobs then convinces Wozniak to sell the system, giving birth to Apple Computer.
Related Links:
Tags: Computers, Personal Computing, Entrepreneurship, Apple, Steve Jobs
Politics
- Mao Zedong's Death & VHS Release (1976)
September 9: Death of Mao Zedong. Release of VHS (Video Home System) in Japan.
Related Links:
Tags: Communism, Mao Zedong, Consumer Electronics, Post-Mao Era
- Death of Mao Zedong (1976)
Death of Mao Zedong.
Related Links:
Tags: Communist China, Cold War, Chinese Communist Party, Political Transition, Cultural Revolution, Leadership Change, Post-Mao Era
- Cultural Revolution Officially Ends (1976)
October 6: End of Cultural Revolution.
Related Links:
Tags: Communism, Mao Zedong, Political Purge, Ideology, Social Upheaval, Political Repression, Post-Mao Era
- Church Committee Investigates U.S. Intelligence Agencies (1976)
Church Committee, a U.S. Senate select committee that investigated abuses by the CIA, NSA, FBI and Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Related Links:
Tags: Ancient rome, Intelligence Agencies, CIA, FBI, Investigations, Cold War
1977
Science
- Voyager 2 Space Probe Launched (1977)
August 20: Voyager 2 launched by NASA.
Tags: Space Exploration, NASA, Planetary Science, Voyager Program, Astronomy, Space Race, Exploration
- World Health Organization Eradicates Smallpox (1977)
October 26: The last wild case of smallpox is eradicated by the WHO.
Related Links:
Tags: World Health Organization, Smallpox, Vaccination, Disease, Public Health, Medical Breakthrough, Global Health
- DNA Sequencing Method Developed by Gilbert and Sanger (1977)
Dr Walter Gilbert and Frederick Sanger invented a new DNA sequencing method for which they won the Nobel Prize.
Related Links:
Tags: Molecular Biology, Genetics, DNA, Biotechnology, Scientific Innovation, Medical Advancements, Frederick Sanger, Nobel Prize, 20th Century Science
- Frederick Sanger Sequences First DNA Genome (1977)
Frederick Sanger sequences the first DNA genome of an organism using Sanger sequencing
Related Links:
Tags: Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Frederick Sanger, Scientific Breakthrough, Research, Medical Advancements
Technology
- Mass Production of Personal Computers Begins (1977)
Introduction of the first mass-produced personal computers.
Related Links:
Tags: Computer Revolution, Steve Jobs, Software Development
- First Self-Driving Car Without Rails or Wires Developed (1977)
The first self-driving car that did not rely upon rails or wires under the road is designed by the Tsukuba Mechanical Engineering Laboratory.
Related Links:
Tags: Transportation, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering
Politics
- Jimmy Carter Inaugurated as U.S. President (1977)
January 20: Jimmy Carter is inaugurated as President of the United States.
Related Links:
Tags: Presidency, Inauguration, Cold War, Foreign Policy
- Second World Constituent Assembly in Innsbruck (1977)
June 16: Second World Constituent Assembly took place in Innsbruck, Austria
Related Links:
Tags: Constitutionalism, International Cooperation, Global Governance
- Djibouti Achieves Independence from France (1977)
June 27: Djibouti gains independence from France.
Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Nationalism, French Empire, Self-determination, Cold War
- Provisional World Government Established (1977)
June 30: Second World Constituent Assembly established a Provisional World Government
Tags: Global Governance, Political Organization, International Relations, Constitutionalism
- Red Army Faction Abducts Hanns Martin Schleyer (1977)
September 5: German Autumn: Red Army Faction abduction of Hanns Martin Schleyer.
Tags: Terrorism, Political Violence, Cold War, West Germany, Kidnapping, Extremism
- Baader-Meinhof Group Suicide and Schleyer Murder Concludes Crisis (1977)
October 19: Suicide of members of Baader-Meinhoff Group and murder of Hanns Martin Schleyer ends crisis in West Germany.
Related Links:
Tags: Terrorism, Cold War, West Germany, Political Violence, Crisis
- Anwar Sadat's Historic Visit to Israel (1977)
November 19: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat becomes the first Arab leader to visit Israel in the hopes of establishing peace between the two countries...
Related Links:
Tags: Peace Process, Arab-Israeli Conflict, Diplomacy, Anwar Sadat, International Relations
Art
- Star Wars Film Premieres and Becomes a Blockbuster (1977)
May 25: Star Wars is released and quickly becomes the highest-grossing film of all-time.
Tags: Film, Cinema, Science Fiction, Entertainment, Popular Culture, Hollywood
1978
Science
- Charon, Pluto's Moon, Discovered (1978)
June 22: Discovery of Pluto's moon Charon.
Tags: Astronomy, Space Exploration, Planetary Science, Kuiper Belt, Solar System, Celestial Bodies, Discovery
- First IVF Baby Born (1978)
July: Louise Brown is the first child successfully born after her mother received in vitro fertilisation treatment.
Related Links:
Tags: Medicine
- Successful Production of Human Insulin Using Recombinant DNA Technology (1978)
Invention of artificial insulin.
Related Links:
Tags: Biotechnology, Medicine, Pharmaceuticals, Genetic Engineering
Technology
- Global Positioning System (GPS) Enters Service (1978)
The Global Positioning System (GPS) enters service. While not the first Satellite navigation system, it is the first to enter widespread civilian use.
Related Links:
Tags: Navigation, United States Military, Cold War, Space Race
Politics
- Camp David Accords Signed (1978)
September 17: The Camp David Accords are signed between Israel and Egypt.
Related Links:
Tags: Peace Treaty, Diplomacy, Arab-Israeli Conflict, Anwar Sadat, Cold War, International Relations
- Tuvalu Achieves Independence from Britain (1978)
October 1: Independence of Tuvalu from Britain.
Tags: Decolonization, Independence, British Empire, Self-determination, Post-Colonialism, Political Transition, Commonwealth
- Assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk (1978)
November 27: San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk are assassinated by former Supervisor Dan White.
Tags: Assassination, Political Violence, LGBTQ+ Rights, San Francisco, Human Rights, Political Corruption
- Spanish Constitution Enacted (1978)
December 29: The current Constitution of Spain comes into effect, which for some marks the completion of the Spanish transition to democracy.
Tags: Constitution, Democracy, Political Reform, Civil Rights, European Union
Art
- Garfield Comic Strip Enters National Syndication (1978)
June 19: Garfield's first comic strip, originally published locally as Jon in 1976, goes into nationwide syndication.
Related Links:
Tags: Popular Culture, Entertainment
1979
Technology
- Microvision, First Handheld Game Console with Cartridges, Released (1979)
The first handheld game console with interchangeable game cartridges, the Microvision is released.
Related Links:
Tags: Video Games, Consumer Electronics, Entertainment, Hardware, Portable Devices
- NTT Launches Japan's First Cellular Network (1979)
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) launched the first cellular network in Japan.
Related Links:
Tags: Telecommunications, Cellular Technology, Mobile Phones, Consumer Electronics
- Public Online Services Launched: CompuServe, MicroNET, and Prestel (1979)
Public dialup information, messaging and e-commerce services, were pioneered through CompuServe and RadioShack's MicroNET, and the UK's Post Office Te...
Tags: Internet, Online Services, Telecommunications, E-commerce
Politics
- Iranian Revolution Concludes: Shah Overthrown (1979)
February 11: The Iranian Revolution ends. Shah Reza Pahlavi is overthrown and forced into exile.
Related Links:
Tags: Revolution, Shah, Theocracy, Political Upheaval, Cold War
- Margaret Thatcher Appointed Prime Minister (1979)
May 4: Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Related Links:
Tags: Prime Minister, Conservative Party, Gender Equality, Cold War, Political Leadership
- Assassination of South Korean President Park Chung-hee (1979)
October 26: Assassination of Park Chung Hee, President of South Korea.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Presidential Assassination, Dictatorship, Political Instability, Authoritarianism, Military Coup
- Iranian Students Seize US Embassy in Tehran, Taking Hostages (1979)
November 4: The Iran hostage crisis begins.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Revolution, Diplomacy, Hostage Crisis, International Relations, Political Conflict
1980
Science
- World Health Organization Announces Smallpox Eradication (1980)
May 8: WHO announces the eradication of smallpox.
Related Links:
Tags: Public Health, Disease Eradication, Vaccination, World Health Organization, Global Health, Medical Advancement, Infectious Diseases, Smallpox
- Voyager 1 Captures First Close-Up Images of Saturn (1980)
November 13: Voyager 1 takes the first close-up pictures of Saturn.
Related Links:
Tags: Space Exploration, Astronomy, Planetary Science, Voyager Program, NASA, Spacecraft
- Scientists Publish RFLP Gene Mapping Tool (1980)
Scientists Mark Skolnick, Ron Davis, Ray White, and David Botstein published their findings on a gene mapping tool using Restriction Fragment-length P...
Tags: Genetics, Molecular Biology, Medical Research, Cancer Research
- Klaus von Klitzing Discovers the Quantum Hall Effect (1980)
Klaus von Klitzing discovered the quantum Hall effect
Related Links:
Tags: Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Fundamental Physics, Nobel Prize, Materials Science
Technology
- Pac-Man Arcade Game Released (1980)
May 22: Release of Pac-Man, the best-selling arcade game.
Tags: Video Games, Arcade Games, Entertainment, Pop Culture, Consumerism
- CNN Launches as the First 24-Hour Cable News Channel (1980)
June 1: Launch of Cable News Network (CNN).
Tags: Media, Television, News, Communication, Globalization
- Rubik's Cube Introduced to the World (1980)
Invention of the Rubik's Cube.
Related Links:
Tags: Toys, Inventions, Games
- Fujio Masuoka Invents Flash Memory at Toshiba (1980)
Flash memory (both NOR and NAND types) was invented by Fujio Masuoka while working for Toshiba. It was formally introduced to the public in 1984.
Related Links:
Tags: Memory, Electronics, Computer Science
Politics
- Rhodesia Declares Independence, Becomes Zimbabwe (1980)
April 18: Independence of Rhodesia, which becomes Zimbabwe.
Tags: Independence, Decolonization, Post-Colonialism, Nationalism, Robert Mugabe
- Vanuatu Achieves Independence (1980)
July 30: Independence of Vanuatu.
Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Post-Colonialism, Nationalism, Self-determination
- Solidarity Union Founded in Poland (1980)
August 31: Solidarity union forms at Poland's Gdańsk Shipyard under Lech Wałęsa, and begins agitation for greater personal freedoms.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Eastern Bloc, Human Rights, Lech Wałęsa, Socialism, Political Protest
1981
Technology
- Space Shuttle Columbia's First Orbital Flight (1981)
April 12: First orbital flight of the Space Shuttle.
Related Links:
Tags: Space Exploration, NASA, Space Shuttle Program, Aerospace Engineering, Cold War, Scientific Advancement
- IBM Personal Computer Released (1981)
August 12: IBM Personal Computer released.
Related Links:
Tags: Personal Computing, Computers, Information Technology, IBM, Hardware, Software, Digital Revolution
- Space Shuttle Test Flights (1981)
The first reusable spacecraft, the Space Shuttle undergoes test flights ahead of full operation in 1982.
Related Links:
Tags: Space Exploration, Aerospace Engineering, NASA, Space Race, Cold War, Orbital Mechanics
- Kane Kramer Develops the IXI Digital Media Player (1981)
Kane Kramer develops the credit card-sized, IXI digital media player.
Related Links:
Tags: Digital Media, Consumer Electronics, Audio
- Televerket Launches Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT) System (1981)
Televerket, a Swedish state-owned corporation, launched the Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT) system.
Related Links:
Tags: Telecommunications, Mobile Phones, Communication
- Comvik Launches Unlicensed Commercial Cellular System (1981)
Comvik, a Swedish telecommunications company, launched the first commercial automatic cellular system. However, according to the Swedish Post and Tele...
Related Links:
Tags: Telecommunications, Cellular Technology, Wireless Communication, Mobile Phones, Technology History
Politics
- Greece Enters the European Communities (1981)
January 1: Greece joins the European Communities.
Related Links:
Tags: European Union, European Integration, Political Alliances, International Relations, Economic Development, Cold War, Post-War
- Reagan Inaugurated, Iran Hostages Released (1981)
January 20: Ronald Reagan is inaugurated as President of the United States. Iran releases the 52 U.S. hostages held in Tehran after 444 days.
Related Links:
Tags: Presidency, Hostage Crisis, Cold War, Diplomacy, Ronald Reagan
- Assassination Attempt on President Ronald Reagan (1981)
March 30: Assassination attempt on U.S. president Ronald Reagan.
Related Links:
Tags: Assassination, Political Violence, Reagan Administration, Cold War
- Assassination Attempt on Pope John Paul II (1981)
May 13: Pope John Paul II assassination attempt.
Related Links:
Tags: Assassination, Pope John Paul II, Cold War, Terrorism, Religion, International Relations, Catholicism
- Assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat (1981)
October 6: Assassination of Anwar Sadat.
Related Links:
Tags: Assassination, Anwar Sadat, Arab-Israeli Conflict, Islamist Extremism, Cold War
- Martial Law Declared in Poland (1981)
December 13: Martial law in Poland begins.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Eastern Bloc, Solidarity, Communism, Political Repression, Polish People's Republic, Human Rights, Soviet Union
1982
Science
- Discovery of the First Millisecond Pulsar (1982)
Donald C. Backer et al. discover the first millisecond pulsar
Related Links:
Tags: Astronomy, Astrophysics, Radio Astronomy, Space Exploration, Cosmology
Technology
- Sony Releases First Commercial CD Player (1982)
October 1: Sony releases the world's first commercially sold CD player, the Sony CDP-101.
Related Links:
Tags: Consumer Electronics, Music, Sony, Media
- Initial Development of CD-ROM Technology (1982)
A CD-ROM contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 Yellow Book standard developed by ...
Related Links:
Tags: Data Storage, Digital Media, Sony, Philips
- Sky One Satellite Television Launched (1982)
Direct to home satellite television transmission, with the launch of Sky One service.
Related Links:
Tags: Television, Satellite, Broadcasting, Media, Communication, Entertainment
- Epson HX-20: The First Laptop Computer Released (1982)
The first laptop computer is launched, the 8/16-bit Epson HX-20.
Related Links:
Tags: Computers, Electronics
Politics
- Provisional World Parliament Convenes First Session (1982)
September 4: Provisional World Parliament of the Provisional World Government first session convened.
Tags: Global Governance, International Relations, Parliament, Political Ideology
- Brezhnev's Death and Andropov's Rise (1982)
November 10 – 15: Death of Leonid Brezhnev; Yuri Andropov becomes General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Soviet Union, Communist Party, Leadership Change, Succession, Eastern Bloc
- First Execution by Lethal Injection (1982)
December 7: The first execution by lethal injection takes place in Texas.
Related Links:
Tags: Criminal Justice, Capital Punishment, Execution, Texas, Law, United States History
Art
- Michael Jackson Releases 'Thriller' (1982)
November 30: Michael Jackson releases his landmark album Thriller, the best-selling album of all time.
Related Links:
Tags: Music, Album, Entertainment, Cultural Impact
1983
Science
- Kary Mullis Develops the Polymerase Chain Reaction (1983)
Kary Mullis invents the polymerase chain reaction, a key discovery in molecular biology
Related Links:
Tags: Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, DNA, Medical Advancements, Research
Technology
- Nintendo Releases Mario Bros. Arcade Game (1983)
July 14: Nintendo releases Mario Bros.
Related Links:
Tags: Video Games, Arcade Games, Entertainment, Gaming Industry, Pop Culture, Software Development
- Chuck Hull Invents Stereolithography (1983)
Stereolithography is invented by Chuck Hull.
Related Links:
Tags: Manufacturing, Industrial Revolution
- Ameritech Commercializes Cellular Network in Chicago (1983)
Ameritech, now known as AT&T, commercialized the Bell System (its cellular network) in Chicago, Ill.
Related Links:
Tags: Telecommunications, Cellular Technology, Mobile Phones, Chicago, Digital Revolution
Politics
- Brunei Achieves Full Independence (1983)
January 1: Independence of Brunei.
Tags: Decolonization, Independence, British Empire, Sultanate, Post-Colonialism, Sovereignty
- Return to Democracy in Argentina (1983)
December 10: End of dictatorship in Argentina.
Related Links:
Tags: Democracy, Dictatorship, Cold War, Human Rights, Military Rule
1984
Science
- HIV Identified as Cause of AIDS; Zidovudine Research Begins (1984)
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is recognized as the cause of HIV/AIDS, and research on zidovudine and other treatments gets underway.
Related Links:
Tags: Epidemiology, Medical Research, Public Health, Infectious Disease
- DNA Profiling Pioneered by Alec Jeffreys (1984)
DNA profiling is pioneered by Alec Jeffreys.
Related Links:
Tags: DNA, Genetics, Forensics, Biotechnology, Medical Advancements, Global Impact
Technology
- Motorola Releases the DynaTAC 8000X, the First Commercial Cell Phone in the US (1984)
The first commercially available cell phone in the US, the DynaTAC 8000X, is created by Motorola.
Related Links:
Tags: Telecommunications, Mobile Phones, Consumer Electronics, Communication
Politics
- Assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (1984)
October 31: Assassination of Indira Gandhi, Indian Prime Minister.
Related Links:
Tags: Assassination, Prime Minister, Political Violence, Cold War, Indian National Congress, Political Instability
- Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Future of Hong Kong (1984)
December 19: Sino-British Joint Declaration agrees to hand Hong Kong back to China by 1997.
Related Links:
Tags: Hong Kong, Sovereignty, Political Transition, Diplomacy, Post-Colonialism, International Relations
1985
Science
- Titanic Wreckage Discovered (1985)
September 1: 73 years after its infamous disaster, the wreck of the Titanic is found off the coast of Newfoundland by a joint French–American expediti...
Related Links:
Tags: Oceanography, Maritime History, Exploration, Shipwreck
- Alec Jeffreys Develops DNA Fingerprinting (1985)
First use of DNA fingerprinting.
Related Links:
Tags: DNA, Genetics, Forensics, Biotechnology, Criminal Justice, Molecular Biology
Technology
- Macintosh 128K Released (1985)
October 1: Release date of the Macintosh 128K, the first successful mass-market personal computer to feature a graphical user interface, built-in scre...
Related Links:
Tags: Computers, Graphical User Interface, Personal Computing, Apple, Software, Hardware
- Microsoft Windows 1.0 Released (1985)
November 20: Windows 1.0, the first Microsoft Windows operating system, released.
Related Links:
Tags: Microsoft, Windows, Software, Personal Computing, Digital Revolution
Politics
- Gorbachev Ascends to Soviet Leadership (1985)
March 11: Mikhail Gorbachev becomes General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
Tags: Cold War, Soviet Union, Communism, Mikhail Gorbachev, Perestroika, Glasnost, Political Transition
- Brazil: End of Military Dictatorship (1985)
March 15: End of military leadership in Brazil.
Tags: Military Dictatorship, Democratization, Cold War, Authoritarianism
- Iran-Contra Affair Begins: US Arms Sales to Iran (1985)
August 20: Beginning of the Iran–Contra affair, a political scandal in the United States that occurred during the second term of the Reagan Administra...
Related Links:
Tags: Scandal, Cold War, Reagan Administration, Covert Operations, International Relations, Political Corruption
1986
Science
- Voyager 2 Sends First Close-Up Images of Uranus (1986)
January 24: First close-up images of the planet Uranus
Related Links:
Tags: Space Exploration, Astronomy, Planetary Science, Voyager Program, NASA, Solar System, Spacecraft
- Halley's Comet Returns (1986)
March: Return of Halley's Comet.
Related Links:
Tags: Astronomy, Comets, Space Exploration, Scientific Observation, Popular Culture
- Discovery of High-Temperature Superconductivity (1986)
Karl Müller and Johannes Bednorz: Discovery of High-temperature superconductivity
Tags: Physics, Materials Science, Research
Technology
- Technophone Develops the First Pocket-Sized Mobile Phone (1986)
Technophone, a British mobile phone company, created the first pocket-sized cell phone, the Excell PCT105.
Related Links:
Tags: Mobile Phones, Telecommunications, Consumer Electronics, Portable Devices
Politics
- Portugal and Spain Accede to the European Communities (1986)
January 1: Portugal and Spain joins the European Communities.
Related Links:
Tags: European Union, European Integration, Trade, International Relations, Cold War
- People Power Revolution Overthrows Marcos Dictatorship (1986)
February 22 – 25: The People Power Revolution leads to the end of the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines.
Tags: Revolution, Dictatorship, Democracy, Cold War, Political Transition
- Assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme (1986)
February 28: Assassination of Olof Palme, Prime Minister of Sweden.
Related Links:
Tags: Assassination, Political Violence, Cold War, Prime Minister, International Relations
- Reykjavík Summit: Nuclear Arms Reduction Discussions (1986)
October 11 – October 12: A breakthrough in nuclear arms control at the Reykjavík Summit.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Nuclear Arms Race, Arms Control, Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, Soviet Union
- Mozambican President Samora Machel Dies in Plane Crash (1986)
October 19: Samora Machel, the first President of Mozambique, dies in a plane crash.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Decolonization, Plane Crash, Presidency, Apartheid
- Iran–Contra Affair Publicly Revealed (1986)
November 3: The Iran–Contra affair publicly announced.
Related Links:
Tags: Political Scandal, Cold War, Covert Operations, Reagan Administration, Nicaragua, National Security, Executive Branch, Foreign Policy
1987
Science
- Prozac Antidepressant Released Commercially (1987)
December: The antidepressant drug fluoxetine (marketed as Prozac) becomes commercially available.
Related Links:
Tags: Pharmaceuticals, Mental Health, Depression, Medical Advancements, Healthcare
Technology
- Huawei Founded in Shenzhen (1987)
September 15: Huawei founded in Shenzhen, China by Ren Zhengfei.
Related Links:
Tags: Telecommunications, Business, Electronics, Corporate History
Politics
- South Korea's June Democratic Struggle Leads to Reforms (1987)
June 10 – 29: The June Democratic Struggle, a nationwide pro-democracy movement in South Korea, leads to democratic reforms and an end to authoritaria...
Related Links:
Tags: Democracy, Protest, Authoritarianism, Political Reform, Human Rights, Cold War, Social Movements
1988
Science
- Quantized Conductance Discovery in Two-Dimensional Electron Gas (1988)
Bart van Wees and colleagues at TU Delft and Philips Research discovered the quantized conductance in a two-dimensional electron gas.
Related Links:
Tags: Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Nanotechnology, Electronics
Technology
- Morris Worm: The First Internet Worm (1988)
November 2: Morris worm, first computer virus distributed through the Internet.
Related Links:
Tags: Computer Science, Internet, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Software
- Channel Tunnel Construction Begins (1988)
Construction of the Channel Tunnel begins.
Related Links:
Tags: Infrastructure, Transportation, European Union, Construction
Politics
- Perestroika Reforms Begin in the Soviet Union (1988)
January 2: Beginning of the perestroika ("restructuring"), a political movement for reformation within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during ...
Related Links:
Tags: Soviet Union, Perestroika, Glasnost, Cold War, Mikhail Gorbachev, Communism, Political Reform
- Lee Teng-hui Assumes Control of Taiwan, Begins Democratization (1988)
January 13: Lee Teng-hui takes control of Taiwan and oversee end of martial law and full democratization of island.
Related Links:
Tags: Democratization, Martial Law, Political Transition, Cold War
- Pinochet Defeated in Chilean Plebiscite (1988)
October 5: Chile's Augusto Pinochet loses a national plebiscite on his rule.
Related Links:
Tags: Dictatorship, Democracy, Chile, Cold War, Political Transition, Human Rights
- Palestinian Declaration of Independence Proclaimed (1988)
November 15: Israeli–Palestinian conflict; beginning with the independent State of Palestine being proclaimed from Algiers.
Tags: Self-determination, PLO, Sovereignty, Independence
- Benazir Bhutto Elected Prime Minister of Pakistan (1988)
December 2: Benazir Bhutto elected Prime Minister of Pakistan months after restoration of civilian rule in the wake of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq's death in ...
Related Links:
Tags: Prime Minister, Democracy, Elections
- Solidarity's Resurgence: Strikes Challenge Polish Communist Regime (1988)
1988 Polish strikes.
Related Links:
Tags: Labor Unions, Cold War, Communism, Solidarity, Workers' Rights, Polish People's Republic, Political Protest, Eastern Bloc, Lech Wałęsa
1989
Science
- Voyager 2's Closest Approach to Neptune and Triton (1989)
August 25: Voyager 2 makes its closest approach to Neptune and its largest moon, Triton.
Tags: Space Exploration, Voyager Program, Planetary Science, Astronomy, Spacecraft, NASA, Solar System
Technology
- MP3 Audio Compression Algorithms Published (1989)
Karlheinz Brandenburg would publish the audio compression algorithms that would be standardised as the: MPEG-1, layer 3 (mp3), and later the MPEG-2, l...
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Tags: Audio, Digital Media, Computer Science
- Tim Berners-Lee Invents the World Wide Web (1989)
The World Wide Web is invented by computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee.
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Tags: World Wide Web, Internet, Computer Science, Information Technology, Networking, Digital Revolution, Globalization, Communication, Software Development
Politics
- Fall of Communist Regimes (1989)
Revolutions of 1989 bring down Communist and authoritarian regimes around the world.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Communism, Eastern Bloc, Democracy, Political Transition, Revolutions, Human Rights, Globalization, Iron Curtain
- Emperor Shōwa's Death and Accession of Emperor Heisei (1989)
January 7: Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito) dies; his son, Akihito (the Emperor Heisei) becomes Emperor of Japan.
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Tags: Monarchy, Emperor, Succession, Post-War
- George H. W. Bush Inaugurated as U.S. President (1989)
January 20: George H. W. Bush is inaugurated as President of the United States.
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Tags: Presidency, Elections, Cold War, Government, Inauguration
- Stroessner Overthrown in Paraguay (1989)
February 2: Alfredo Stroessner is overthrown in Paraguay. End of dictatorship.
Related Links:
Tags: Dictatorship, Political Transition, Coup d'état, Cold War, Human Rights, Military Rule, Democratization
- Khomeini's Death and Khamenei's Succession in Iran (1989)
June 3: Ruhollah Khomeini dies; Ali Khamenei becomes Supreme Leader of Iran.
Tags: Theocracy, Political Power
- Tiananmen Square Massacre and Polish Elections (1989)
June 4, 1989: Polish elections led to a peaceful transition to democracy, while in Beijing, the Tiananmen Square protests ended with a military crackd...
Related Links:
Tags: Democracy, Human Rights, Communism, Cold War, Political Transition, Solidarity Movement, Tadeusz Mazowiecki
- Tank Man Halts Military Tanks in Tiananmen Square (1989)
June 5: An unknown Chinese protester, "Tank Man", stands in front of a column of military tanks on Chang'an Avenue in Beijing, temporarily halting the...
Tags: Political Protest, Human Rights, Cold War, Communism, Civil Disobedience
- Berlin Wall Falls, Eastern Europe Begins Transition (1989)
November 9: Fall of the Berlin Wall; the Revolutions of 1989 and the collapse of the Soviet Bloc begin in Europe, which leads to the end of the Cold W...
Tags: Cold War, Eastern Bloc, Soviet Union, Democracy, Geopolitics, Iron Curtain
- First Direct Presidential Election in Brazil After 1960 (1989)
November 15 – December 17: The first direct Presidential election in Brazil since 1960.
Tags: Presidential Election, Democracy, Military Dictatorship, Transition to Democracy
- Czechoslovak Communist Government Collapse (1989)
November 24: The Communist government of Czechoslovakia falls during the Velvet Revolution.
Related Links:
Tags: Communism, Democracy, Cold War, Czechoslovakia, Political Transition, Nonviolent Resistance
- Execution of Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu (1989)
December 25: Romanian Revolution: Trial and execution of Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu in Romania.
Tags: Cold War, Communism, Revolution, Dictatorship, Political Violence, Human Rights, Romania
1990
Science
- Hubble Space Telescope Launched (1990)
April 24 – May 20: Launch of the Hubble Space Telescope.
Related Links:
Tags: Space Exploration, Astronomy, Telescopes, NASA, Astrophysics, Cosmology, Space Race
- IPCC Releases First Assessment Report on Climate Change (1990)
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change releases its first assessment report, linking increases in carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere, and...
Tags: Climate Change, Global Warming, Environmental Science, Environmentalism, Sustainability
- Discovery of BRCA1 Gene Link to Breast Cancer (1990)
Mary-Claire King discovers the link between heritable breast cancers and a gene found on chromosome 17q21.
Related Links:
Tags: Genetics, Cancer Research, Medical Breakthrough, Molecular Biology
Technology
- First Website Published by Tim Berners-Lee (1990)
December 20: Tim Berners-Lee publishes the first web site, which described the World Wide Web project.
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Tags: World Wide Web, Internet, Computer Science, Information Technology, Digital Revolution, Communication
- Neo Geo AES Launches with Memory Card Support (1990)
The Neo Geo AES becomes the first video game system to launch that used Memory Cards.
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Tags: Video Games, Arcade Games, Entertainment
- Alan Emtage Creates the Archie Search Engine (1990)
The first search engine invented was “Archie”, created by Alan Emtage a student at McGill University in Montreal.
Related Links:
Tags: Search Engine, Internet, World Wide Web, Information Technology, Computer Science, Software Development
Politics
- Nelson Mandela Released From Prison (1990)
February 11: Nelson Mandela is released from Victor Verster Prison outside Cape Town, South Africa after 27 years as a political prisoner.
Related Links:
Tags: Apartheid, Nelson Mandela, Anti-Apartheid Movement, Civil Rights, Human Rights, Post-Apartheid
- Pinochet's Dictatorship Ends in Chile (1990)
March 11: End of the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet in Chile.
Related Links:
Tags: Dictatorship, Transition to Democracy, Human Rights, Political Reform, Cold War, Chilean History, Democratization, Military Rule
- United States Begins Radio and Television Martí Broadcasts to Cuba (1990)
March 27: The United States begins broadcasting Radio y Televisión Martí to Cuba.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, Propaganda, Television, Cuban Revolution, International Relations
- Yemen Unifies (1990)
May 22: North and South Yemen unify to form the Republic of Yemen.
Related Links:
Tags: Unification, Political Transition, Arab World, Republic, Nationalism, Cold War, Middle East Politics
- Aung San Suu Kyi Placed Under House Arrest by Myanmar Military (1990)
September 6: Myanmar Armed Forces place Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest.
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Tags: Burma, Military Dictatorship, House Arrest, Political Repression, Human Rights, Democracy Movement
- Reunification of Germany (1990)
October 3: German reunification.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, German History, Political Transition, Nationalism, Eastern Bloc, Western Bloc, European Integration
1991
Science
- Total Solar Eclipse Visible Across North America (1991)
July 11: A solar eclipse of record totality occurs in the Northern hemisphere. It is seen by 20 million people in Hawaii, Mexico, and Colombia.
Tags: Astronomy, Solar Eclipse, Scientific Observation, Hawaii
- Ötzi the Iceman Discovered (1991)
September 19: Ötzi the Iceman is found in the Alps.
Related Links:
Tags: Archaeology, Bronze Age, Anthropology
Technology
- First GSM Telephone Call (1991)
The world's first GSM telephone call is made in Finland.
Tags: Telecommunications, Mobile Phones, Wireless Communication, Digital Revolution
- Linus Torvalds Releases First Linux Kernel (1991)
October 5: Linus Torvalds launches the first version of the Linux kernel.
Related Links:
Tags: Operating Systems, Software Development, Open Source, Computer Science, Internet, Information Technology
- SunDisk Launches First Commercial Flash-Based SSD (1991)
The first commercial flash-based solid-state drive is launched by SunDisk.
Related Links:
Tags: Data Storage, Digital Revolution, Electronics, Technology Industry
- First SIM Card Developed by Giesecke & Devrient (1991)
The first sim card is developed by Munich smart-card maker Giesecke & Devrient.
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Tags: Telecommunications, Mobile Phones, Digital Revolution, Communication
Politics
- Elizabeth II Addresses U.S. Congress During Royal Visit (1991)
May 16: Elizabeth II becomes the first British monarch to address the U.S. Congress during a 13-day royal visit in Washington, D.C.
Tags: Diplomacy, Monarchy, Cold War, Heads of State, International Relations, Ceremony
- Assassination of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi (1991)
May 21: Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, Indian Prime Minister.
Related Links:
Tags: Assassination, Prime Minister, Terrorism, LTTE, Indian Politics
- Bush Nominates Clarence Thomas to Supreme Court; First GSM Call (1991)
July 1: President George H. W. Bush nominates the controversial Clarence Thomas for the Supreme Court of the United States to replace Thurgood Marshal...
Tags: Supreme Court, Telecommunications, Mobile Technology, United States Politics
- Boris Yeltsin Elected President of Russia (1991)
July 10: Boris Yeltsin becomes the first President of Russia.
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Tags: Cold War, Soviet Union, Boris Yeltsin, Presidency, Democracy
- Soviet Coup Attempt Against Gorbachev (1991)
August 19: Soviet coup attempt of 1991: A coup occurs in response to a new union treaty to be signed on August 20.
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Tags: Cold War, Soviet Union, Coup d'état, Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin, Perestroika, Glasnost
- North and South Korea Join the United Nations (1991)
September 17: North and South Korea are admitted to the United Nations.
Related Links:
Tags: Cold War, United Nations, Diplomacy, International Relations, Political Development
- U.S. House Bank to Close After Check-Bouncing Scandal (1991)
October 3: Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Tom Foley announces the closure of the House Bank by the end of the year after revelations tha...
Related Links:
Tags: House of Representatives, Scandal, Corruption, Political Ethics
- Madrid Conference on the Middle East Peace Process (1991)
October 30 – November 1: Madrid Conference of 1991.
Related Links:
Tags: Peace Process, Arab-Israeli Conflict, Diplomacy, International Relations, Israeli-Palestinian conflict
- Dissolution of the Soviet Union & Start of Algerian Civil War (1991)
December 26: Dissolution of the Soviet Union and independence of 15 former Soviet republics. Beginning of the Algerian Civil War.
Tags: Cold War, Soviet Union, Independence, Geopolitics, Civil War, Decolonization, Vladimir Putin
- Sino-Soviet Border Agreement Signed (1991)
1991 Sino-Soviet Border Agreement.
Related Links:
Tags: Border Disputes, Diplomacy, Cold War, Soviet Union, International Relations
1992
Science
- First Exoplanets Discovered (1992)
Aleksander Wolszczan and Dale Frail observe the first pulsar planets (this was the first confirmed discovery of planets outside the Solar System)
Related Links:
Tags: Astronomy, Astrophysics, Exoplanets, Planetary Science, Solar System, Space Exploration
Technology
- Microsoft Launches Windows 3.1 (1992)
October 31 - Microsoft released Windows 3.1.
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Tags: Microsoft, Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Graphical User Interface, Technology Industry, Digital Revolution
Politics
- Maastricht Treaty Signed, Establishing the European Union (1992)
February 7: The Maastricht Treaty is signed, creating the European Union.
Related Links:
Tags: European Integration, European Union, Treaty, International Relations, Political Union, Globalization, Multilateralism, Sovereignty, Economic Cooperation
- Albania Abolishes Communism (1992)
April 3: End of communism in Albania.
Tags: Communism, Albania, Political Transition, Cold War, Democratization
- Lennart Meri Elected President of Estonia (1992)
October 6: Lennart Meri becomes the first President of Estonia after regaining independence.
Related Links:
Tags: Estonia, Presidency, Independence, Baltic States, Democracy
- Kim Young-sam Elected President of South Korea (1992)
December 18: The South Korean presidential election is won by Kim Young-sam, the first non-military candidate elected since 1961.
Tags: Presidential Election, Democracy, Political Transition, Military Rule
1993
Science
- Biosphere 2 Mission 1 Concludes (1993)
September 26: The first mission in Biosphere 2 ends after two years.
Related Links:
Tags: Environmental Science, Ecology, Space Exploration, Sustainability, Research
Technology
- IBM Launches the SIMON Personal Communicator, the First Smartphone (1993)
IBM created the first mobile app with SIMON; it had 10 built-in apps from Email to Calendar.
Tags: Mobile Computing, Smartphones, IBM, Communication, Software, Early Technology, Computing
Politics
- Czech Republic and Slovakia Officially Separate (1993)
January 1: Velvet Divorce between Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Related Links:
Tags: Nationalism, Self-determination, Czechoslovakia, Divorce
- Bill Clinton Inaugurated as US President (1993)
January 20: Bill Clinton is inaugurated as President of the United States.
Related Links:
Tags: Presidential Inauguration, Bill Clinton, Government
- Eritrea Declares Independence (1993)
May 24: Independence of Eritrea.
Tags: Independence, Decolonization, African History, Self-determination, Nationalism, Border Disputes
- Oslo Accords Signed: End of First Intifada (1993)
September 13: Oslo accords end First Intifada between Israel and Palestine.
Related Links:
Tags: Middle East Conflict, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Peace Process, Diplomacy, Self-determination, Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin
- Maastricht Treaty Enters into Force (1993)
November 1: The Maastricht Treaty comes in to effect.
Related Links:
Tags: European Union, Treaty, European Integration, Political Union, International Relations
Art
- Schindler's List Film Release (1993)
November 30: Release date of Schindler's List.
Related Links:
Tags: Film, Holocaust, World War II, Cinema, Jewish History, Memory
1994
Science
- Andrew Wiles Proves Fermat's Last Theorem (1994)
Andrew Wiles proves Fermat's Last Theorem
Related Links:
Tags: Mathematics, Number Theory, Proof, Scientific Breakthrough, Intellectual History
Technology
- Channel Tunnel Opens (1994)
May 6: Opening of the Channel Tunnel.
Related Links:
Tags: Infrastructure, Transportation, European Union, Construction, Trade
- Three Gorges Dam Construction Begins (1994)
December 14: Construction of the Three Gorges Dam begins in Hubei, China.
Related Links:
Tags: Hydropower, Infrastructure, Energy, Environment, Yangtze River
- IBM Develops the Simon, the First Smartphone (1994)
IBM Simon, the world's first smartphone, is developed by IBM.
Tags: Communication, Mobile Phones, Smartphones, IBM, Telecommunications, Consumer Electronics
- Ericsson Mobile Develops First Generation of Bluetooth (1994)
First generation of Bluetooth is developed by Ericsson Mobile. A form of data communication on short distances between electronic devices.
Related Links:
Tags: Wireless Communication, Mobile Technology, Telecommunications, Networking, Digital Revolution
- First Mobile Game: Tetris on Hagenuk MT-2000 (1994)
A Tetris variant on the Hagenuk MT-2000 device becomes the first mobile game.
Related Links:
Tags: Video Games, Consumer Electronics
Politics
- Nelson Mandela Elected President of South Africa, Apartheid Ends (1994)
May 10: End of apartheid in South Africa and election of Nelson Mandela.
Related Links:
Tags: Apartheid, Nelson Mandela, Anti-Apartheid Movement, Democracy, Civil Rights, Post-Colonialism, Human Rights
- Kim Il-sung's Death and Succession of Kim Jong-il (1994)
July 8 – 17: Death and state funeral of Kim Il-sung. Kim Jong-il becomes Supreme Leader of North Korea.
Tags: Succession, Dictatorship, Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, Cold War, Communist States, Totalitarianism, Political Transition
- Palau Achieves Independence (1994)
October 1: Palau gains independence from the United States.
Tags: Independence, Decolonization, Self-determination, Sovereignty, United Nations
Art
- Disney's The Lion King Released (1994)
June 15: Release date of Disney's The Lion King.
Related Links:
Tags: Animation, Film, Entertainment, Disney, Cinema, Cultural Impact
- Forrest Gump Film Premieres (1994)
June 23: Release date of Forrest Gump.
Related Links:
Tags: Film, Cinema, American Culture, Popular Culture, Hollywood
1995
Science
- American Astronaut Launches Aboard Russian Soyuz (1995)
March 14: Astronaut Norman Thagard becomes the first American to ride into space aboard a Russian launch vehicle (the Soyuz TM-21), lifting off from t...
Tags: Space Exploration, Astronauts, International Cooperation, Cold War Legacy, NASA, Space Race
- First Confirmed Extrasolar Planet Discovery (1995)
Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz definitively observe the first extrasolar planet around a main sequence star
Tags: Astronomy, Exoplanets, Planetary Science, Astrophysics, Space Exploration, Observational Astronomy, 20th Century Science
- First Bose-Einstein Condensate Created (1995)
Eric Cornell, Carl Wieman and Wolfgang Ketterle attained the first Bose-Einstein Condensate with atomic gases, so called fifth state of matter at an e...
Tags: Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Experimental Physics
Technology
- Microsoft Releases Windows 95 (1995)
August 24: Release date of Windows 95.
Related Links:
Tags: Software, Personal Computing, Microsoft, Internet, Graphical User Interface, Digital Revolution, Technology Industry, Global Impact
- DVD Format Developed by Consortium (1995)
DVD is an optical disc storage format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity tha...
Tags: Digital Media, Consumer Electronics, Entertainment, Philips, Sony
- Waiter.com Launches Online Food Ordering (1995)
Waiter.com launches as the first online food ordering service.
Related Links:
Tags: Internet, E-commerce, Online Services, Digital Revolution, Business
Politics
- Oslo II Accord Signed (1995)
September 28: Oslo II Accord.
Related Links:
Tags: Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Peace Process, Palestinian territories, Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin
- Assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin (1995)
November 4: Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, Israeli Prime Minister and Defence Minister, by Yigal Amir, an Israeli right-wing extremist.
Related Links:
Tags: Assassination, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Peace Process, Political Violence, Yitzhak Rabin, Prime Minister
Art
- Toy Story Premiere: First Computer-Animated Feature Film (1995)
November 22: Premiere of Toy Story, the first computer-animated feature film and the first Pixar Animation Studios film.
Related Links:
Tags: Animation, Film, Cinema, Entertainment
1996
Science
- Dolly the Sheep: First Mammalian Clone (1996)
July 5: Dolly the sheep becomes the first successful cloned mammal.
Tags: Cloning, Genetics, Biotechnology, Biology
- Myriad Genetics Releases BRACAnalysis Genetic Test (1996)
Myriad Genetics released the BRACAnalysis, the first commercial genetic test for assessing the risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
Related Links:
Tags: Genetics, Biotechnology, Medical Advancements, Healthcare
- Dolly the Sheep Cloned at Roslin Institute (1996)
Roslin Institute: Dolly the sheep was cloned.
Related Links:
Tags: Cloning, Genetics, Biotechnology, Scientific Breakthrough
Technology
- DVD Released in Japan (1996)
November 1: Release of DVD in Japan.
Related Links:
Tags: Entertainment, Digital Media, Consumer Electronics
- Ciena and Sprint Deploy First Commercial DWDM System (1996)
The Ciena Corporation, in partnership with Sprint, deployed the first commercial dense wavelength-division multiplexing system, which created the mass...
Tags: Internet, Telecommunications, Infrastructure, Networking
- First Commercial Mobile Web Service Launched with Texting (1996)
Mobile web was first commercially offered in Finland on the Nokia 9000 Communicator phone, and it was also the first phone with texting.
Related Links:
Tags: Mobile Technology, Wireless Communication, Internet
- Launch of Early Social Networking Sites: Bolt and SixDegrees (1996)
Bolt and Six Degrees (1997) both become the first social media sites.
Related Links:
Tags: Internet, Social Media, Networking, World Wide Web, Communication, Software Development
Politics
- Philippine Government and MNLF Sign Peace Agreement (1996)
September 2: A permanent peace agreement is signed at the Malacañan Palace between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation ...
Related Links:
Tags: Peace Treaty, Insurgency, Separatism, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Government
- Taliban Seizes Control of Afghanistan, Establishes Islamic Emirate (1996)
September 27: The Taliban government takes control of Afghanistan, creating the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
Related Links:
Tags: Taliban, Civil War, Political Islam, Insurgency, Regional Instability
- First Direct Presidential Election in Taiwan (1996)
End of dictatorship in Taiwan.
Related Links:
Tags: Democracy, Political Transition, Elections, Dictatorship, Presidential Election
1997
Science
- Fermilab Experiments Discover Top Quark (1997)
CDF and DØ experiments at Fermilab: Top quark.
Tags: Physics, Particle Physics, Standard Model, High-Energy Physics, 20th Century Science
Technology
- Netflix Streaming Service Launches (1997)
August 29: Netflix is launched.
Tags: Internet, Streaming, Digital Media, Entertainment, Telecommunications, Dot-com Bubble
- Land Speed Record: Sound Barrier Broken (1997)
Sound barrier broken on land.
Related Links:
Tags: Transportation, Jet Propulsion
- First Weblog Created by Jorn Barger (1997)
The first weblog, a discussion or informational website, was created by Jorn Barger, and later shortened to "blog" in 1999 by Peter Merholz.
Related Links:
Tags: Internet, World Wide Web, Digital Media, Social Media
Politics
- Albanian Civil Unrest and Government Collapse (1997)
January – August: The Albanian civil unrest (Lottery Uprising), sparked by pyramid scheme failures, in which the government was toppled, with new parl...
Related Links:
Tags: Civil Unrest, Political Instability, Elections, Albania
- Kabila Overthrows Mobutu; Zaire Renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997)
May 17: Kabila ousts Mobutu; Zaire becomes the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Related Links:
Tags: Political Transition, Civil War, African History, Post-Colonialism, Dictatorship, Regime Change, Cold War Aftermath, Mobutu Sese Seko
- Hong Kong Handover: United Kingdom Transfers Sovereignty to China (1997)
July 1: Handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China.
Related Links:
Tags: Decolonization, Sovereignty, Political Transition, British Empire, International Relations
Literature
- J.K. Rowling Publishes Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997)
June 25: J. K. Rowling publishes Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
Tags: Literature, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Novel, Cultural Impact
1998
Science
- Wakefield's Lancet Study Linking MMR Vaccine to Autism Published (1998)
February 28: A study led by Andrew Wakefield is published in The Lancet suggesting an alleged link between MMR vaccine and autism. Now known to be ful...
Related Links:
Tags: Vaccination, Public Health, Medical Ethics
- Discovery of the Accelerated Expansion of the Universe (1998)
Supernova Cosmology Project and the High-Z Supernova Search Team: discovery of the accelerated expansion of the Universe and dark energy
Related Links:
Tags: Cosmology, Astronomy, Supernova, Universe, Expansion, Observation, Research
Technology
- Microsoft Launches Windows 98 (1998)
June 25 - Microsoft released Windows 98.
Related Links:
Tags: Software, Microsoft, Operating Systems, Personal Computing, Internet, Digital Revolution, Windows
- Google Founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin (1998)
September 4: Google is founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin.
Related Links:
Tags: Internet, Search Engine, Computer Science, Digital Revolution
- Zarya Module Launched, First Component of the International Space Station (1998)
November 20: A Russian Proton rocket is launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, carrying the first segment of the International Space Sta...
Related Links:
Tags: Space Exploration, International Cooperation, Space Station, NASA, Cold War Aftermath, Aerospace
- SaeHan Information Systems Releases First Portable MP3 Player (1998)
The first portable MP3 player was released by SaeHan Information Systems.
Related Links:
Tags: Music, Portable Devices, Consumer Electronics, Digital Revolution
Politics
- Good Friday Agreement Ends The Troubles (1998)
April 10: The Good Friday Agreement brings an end to The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Related Links:
Tags: Peace Agreement, Northern Ireland, The Troubles, Conflict Resolution, Negotiation
- Death of Cambodian Khmer Rouge Leader Pol Pot (1998)
April 15: Death of Pol Pot.
Tags: Cold War, Cambodia, Khmer Rouge, Genocide, Dictatorship, Political Violence, Pol Pot, Communism
- Indonesian Riots and Suharto's Fall (1998)
May 4 – 15: Riots in Indonesia, including incidents of mass violence, demonstrations, and civil unrest of a racial nature, result in the Fall of Suhar...
Related Links:
Tags: Political Transition, Civil Unrest, Mass Violence, Regime Change, East Timor, Human Rights, Independence
- Clinton Impeachment Proceedings Commence (1998)
December 19: The impeachment of Bill Clinton begins as a result of the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal.
Tags: Impeachment, Political Scandal, Bill Clinton, Presidential Politics, Political Ethics, Governance
1999
Technology
- TiVo Digital Video Recorder Launched (1999)
The first digital video recorder (DVR), the TiVo, is launched by Xperi.
Related Links:
Tags: Digital Media, Consumer Electronics, Home Entertainment, Television, Streaming
- NTT DoCoMo Launches i-mode (1999)
NTT DoCoMo launches i-mode, the first integrated Online App store for mobile phones.
Related Links:
Tags: Mobile Technology, Internet, Wireless Communication, Telecommunications
Politics
- Hugo Chávez Inaugurated as President of Venezuela (1999)
February 2: Hugo Chavez becomes President of Venezuela.
Related Links:
Tags: Venezuela, Presidency, Hugo Chávez, Populism, Socialism, Elections
- Macau Handover: Transfer of Sovereignty to China (1999)
December 20: Handover of Macau from the Portuguese Republic to the People's Republic of China after 442 years of Portuguese rule in the settlement.
Related Links:
Tags: Decolonization, Sovereignty, Post-Colonialism
- Vladimir Putin Assumes Russian Presidency (1999)
Vladimir Putin becomes the President of Russia.
Related Links:
Tags: Presidency, Authoritarianism, Geopolitics, International Relations, Elections, Leadership
🔵 Blue events are more important