 | INTERNATIONAL HISTORY |
YEAR: 1969
Americans Armstrong and Aldrin set foot on the Moon, on 21 July.
The jumbo jet makes its maiden flight.
7 Apr - The Internet's symbolic birth date
YEAR: 1968
20 July - The Special Olympics were founded
YEAR: 1967
The first successful human heart transplant is performed in South Africa by Dr Christiaan Barnard.
YEAR: 1965
The Indo-Pakistan War begins when a Pakistani force crossed into Indian territory in an attempt to annex disputed Kashmir as a province of Pakistan.
YEAR: 1964
Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage, treason and violent conspiracy. He was held at Robben Island until 1990. For his work to end apartheid he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and the following year, after South Africa's first all-race elections, was elected President. He retired from politics in 1999.
YEAR: 1963
The Vietnam War begins.
The Apollo space programme is launched.
YEAR: 1962
The Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world close to a nuclear war.
Rod Laver wins his first tennis Grand Slam.
Nelson Mandela is imprisoned. He was not released until 1990.
YEAR: 1961
The Berlin Wall is erected.
Amnesty International founded to campaign for those imprisoned for religious and political beliefs.
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space.
John F Kennedy becomes US President.
Rudolf Nureyev, principal dancer at the Kirov Ballet, defects to the West.
Under the Antartic treaty of 1961, 27 countries agreed to ban mining to keep the Antartic unspoiled. They allow only scientific research.
11 Sept: World Wildlife Fund formed
YEAR: 1960
The first communications satellite - Echo 1 - was launched by the US on 12 August 1960
YEAR: 1959
Fidel Castro becomes leader in Cuba.
The world's first practical hovercraft, the SRN1 was built and successfully crossed the English Channel.
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