Contemporary
Sri Lankan Civil War 1983–2009: The Tamil Tigers and the State
The Sri Lankan armed forces defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in May 2009; the war cost an estimated 80,000–100,000 or more lives.
Era · 1945 – present
Contemporary
From the Cold War and the Space Race to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the world we live in today.
Contemporary
Sally Ride (1983): First American Woman in Space on STS-7
Ride became the first American woman and, at 32, the youngest American to fly in space; STS-7 deployed two satellites and first tested the shuttle arm on a free-flying satellite.
Contemporary
Discovery of HIV (1983): Identifying the Virus That Causes AIDS
The Pasteur team's virus, confirmed in 1984 as the cause of AIDS and named HIV in 1986, made blood tests and antiviral treatment possible.
Contemporary
Ethiopian Famine (1983-1985): Drought, War and Live Aid
Estimates of deaths range from about 300,000 to more than one million; the famine prompted the largest public fundraising effort of its time, including Band Aid and Live Aid.
Contemporary
Assassination of Indira Gandhi (1984) and Operation Blue Star
Indira Gandhi was killed and her son Rajiv Gandhi became prime minister; anti-Sikh violence in Delhi and other cities killed around 3,000 people or more.
Contemporary
1984 Los Angeles Olympics: Soviet Boycott and Carl Lewis's Gold
A record 140 nations competed despite a Soviet-led boycott, and the privately run Games made a surplus of over $200 million, changing how Olympics were financed.
Contemporary
UK Miners' Strike (1984–1985): Thatcher Versus the NUM
The strike ended without agreement after a year; the NUM was defeated, pit closures accelerated and British deep coal mining had almost vanished by 2015.
Contemporary
Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984): The World's Worst Industrial Disaster
About 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate gas spread over the city; thousands died within days and estimates of total deaths range from about 3,800 to more than 15,000, with hundreds of thousands injured.
Contemporary
Iran-Contra Affair (1985-1987): Arms, Hostages and the Contras
The scandal damaged the Reagan presidency; 14 people were charged, 11 convicted, and six were pardoned by President George H. W. Bush in 1992.
Contemporary
Live Aid (1985): The Global Concert for Ethiopian Famine Relief
The concerts and the wider Band Aid campaign raised well over 100 million pounds for famine relief and changed how celebrities and the public engaged with humanitarian causes.
Contemporary
Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior (1985): France Bombs Greenpeace
The ship was sunk and one crew member killed; France eventually admitted responsibility, its defence minister resigned and it paid compensation to New Zealand and Greenpeace.
Contemporary
Schengen Agreement (1985): How Europe Abolished Border Checks
Five states agreed to phase out checks at their shared borders, laying the foundation of today's Schengen Area of 29 countries.