The Year That Rocked the World

The USSR began to lose grip on power in Eastern Europe, climaxing in the collapse of the Berlin Wall. The Chinese Government stamped hard on student protests in Beijing. There was an environmental disaster in Alaska and an earthquake sent shock waves in California.

In 1981, Prince Charles finally found his bride and thus began a year of royal festivity in the UK, culminating in the wedding of the century. Elsewhere in the world, events took an uglier turn with the attempted assassinations of various prominent leaders.

1977 held celebrations in the form of Queen Elizabeth the Second’s Silver Jubilee, Space Shuttle Columbia’s first test flight, and the release of Star Wars; it was also a year of terrorism, hijacks, and assassinations.

The coming collapse of the planet as we knew it hit the agenda of world leaders for the first time. A historic empire fell as technological and wizarding empires were created. A sporting superstar was born and icons were wrenched away at the height of their fame.

A future world leader became the star of a reality series. The seeds for ISIS were sown as the former leader of Iraq faced justice. One man risked his life to combat supersize meals. A space-airline was born and we explored the red planet.