The world in
What happened in 1970?
25 events across 8 world regions, each with its sources.
Europe
Cold WarAfter World War II, the Western Bloc led by the United States and the Eastern Bloc led by the Soviet Union engaged in a nearly half-century-long political, economic, and military confrontation. Although the two superpowers never fought directly, they competed globally through proxy wars, an arms race, and the Space Race. The Cold War began in the late 1940s and ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: U.S. Army photo Photo Credit: USAMHI / Public domain ↗
Signing of the Treaty on the Creation of the USSROn December 30, 1922, the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR was signed at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, officially establishing the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Plenipotentiary delegates from the Russian, Transcaucasian, Ukrainian, and Byelorussian Soviet republics signed the treaty, along with a declaration serving as its preamble. The treaty legally formalized the political union of the Soviet republics that had existed since 1919, creating a new federal government with centralized functions in Moscow. Legislative power was vested in the Congress of Soviets and the Central Executive Committee, while executive power lay with the Council of People's Commissars.
- Warschauer Kniefall
On 7 December 1970, West German Chancellor Willy Brandt knelt before the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising memorial in Warsaw. The act later came to symbolize his Ostpolitik, aimed at achieving diplomatic reconciliation with West Germany’s eastern neighbours.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
- Signing of the Treaty of Warsaw
On 7 December 1970, West German Chancellor Willy Brandt and Polish Prime Minister Józef Cyrankiewicz signed the Treaty of Warsaw at the Presidential Palace, normalizing bilateral relations. It was ratified by the West German Bundestag on 17 May 1972.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Treaty of Moscow signedOn 12 August 1970, the Soviet Union and West Germany signed the Treaty of Moscow in Moscow. West German Chancellor Brandt and Foreign Minister Scheel signed for West Germany, while Soviet Premier Kosygin and Foreign Minister Gromyko signed for the Soviet Union. The treaty was an initial realization of Brandt's Ostpolitik, marking the start of normalization of West Germany's relations with Eastern European countries.
Establishment of Cévennes National ParkIn 1970, France established Cévennes National Park in the southern Cévennes mountain region, centered on the Forêt Domaniale de l'Aigoual. The park is the most forested national park in France and is known for its traditional agricultural settlements, with part of the area later designated a World Heritage Site.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Portuguese Colonial WarArmed conflicts took place between Portugal and independence movements in its African colonies from 1961 to 1974, primarily in Angola, Guinea-Bissau, and Mozambique. The war stemmed from the Salazar regime's refusal to relinquish its colonial empire. It ended after the Carnation Revolution in Portugal in 1974 brought down the Estado Novo regime.
Beginning of the South African Border WarIn 1966, the South African Border War broke out across Namibia, Zambia, and Angola. It was fought between the South African Defence Force and the People's Liberation Army of Namibia, the armed wing of SWAPO. The conflict, closely tied to the Angolan Civil War, became one of Africa's largest wars since World War II.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: No machine-readable author provided. Ceresnet assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY-SA 2.5 ↗
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Establishment of Kahuzi-Biega National ParkIn 1970, Kahuzi-Biega National Park was established in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, initiated by Belgian photographer and conservationist Adrien Deschryver and named after two dormant volcanoes within it. Located near Lake Kivu and the Rwandan border, it harbours the critically endangered eastern lowland gorilla.
SourcesUNESCO World Heritage listing ↗Wikipedia ↗Image: Forest Service, USDA / Public domain ↗
Establishment of Salonga National ParkSalonga National Park was established in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, within the Congo Basin. Located at the heart of the Congo River basin and covering about 36,000 km², it is Africa's largest tropical rainforest reserve, providing crucial habitat for many endemic endangered species. The park was later inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984.
SourcesUNESCO World Heritage listing ↗Wikipedia ↗Image: Radio Okapi / CC BY 2.0 ↗
West Asia
- Dhofar Rebellion
The Dhofar Rebellion was an armed conflict in Oman's Dhofar Governorate from 1962 to 1976, led by the Marxist-Leninist Dhofar Liberation Front against Sultan Said bin Taimur and British influence. The Omani government, backed by Britain and Iran, fought the rebels, who received support from South Yemen, the Soviet Union, and China, making it a Cold War proxy war. The rebellion ended in July 1976 with the Sultan's forces regaining full control.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
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Corrective Movement in SyriaFrom 13 to 16 November 1970, Syrian Defense Minister Hafez al-Assad launched a bloodless military coup, ousting the Ba'ath Party leadership under Salah Jadid. Following the coup, Assad restructured party and state institutions and adopted a new doctrine centered on military strengthening, alliance with the Soviet Union, and defeating Israel.
- Launch of Iran's White Revolution
On 26 January 1963, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran launched a series of far-reaching reforms known as the White Revolution. The program included land reform, women's enfranchisement, industrial growth, and public health improvements, aiming to modernize the country. The reform era ended with the Shah's overthrow in 1979.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Establishment of Sanaa UniversitySanaa University was established in 1970 in Sanaa, the capital of the Yemen Arab Republic, as the country's first and primary university. It marked the founding of higher education in Yemen, playing a foundational role in the nation's educational development.
Central & South America
Nicaraguan RevolutionThe Nicaraguan Revolution was a revolutionary movement in Nicaragua from 1961 to 1990, led by the Sandinista National Liberation Front, aiming to overthrow the Somoza family dictatorship and, after its success in 1979, to carry out social and economic reforms.
1970 Ancash earthquakeOn 31 May 1970, an undersea earthquake struck off Peru’s Pacific coast, triggering a massive landslide/avalanche. The combined effects caused severe human and social losses and made it the most catastrophic natural disaster in Peru’s recorded history.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: U.S. Geological Survey / Public domain ↗
Cathedral of Brasília completedThe Cathedral of Brasília was completed and dedicated on May 31, 1970, serving as the Roman Catholic cathedral of Brasília, Brazil. Designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer and engineer Joaquim Cardozo, its distinctive hyperboloid structure is formed by 16 concrete columns, with most of the building underground, representing a landmark of modern religious architecture.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) / CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
North America
Kent State shootingsOn May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed students protesting the Vietnam War and the U.S. incursion into Cambodia at Kent State University, killing four and wounding nine in a 13-second barrage. The shootings deepened national divisions over the war and sparked widespread outrage.
- Patent Cooperation Treaty signed
The Patent Cooperation Treaty was signed in Washington, D.C., in 1970, aiming to provide a unified procedure for filing patent applications to protect inventions in multiple contracting states. The treaty entered into force in 1978, with 18 initial signatories.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Establishment of Andersonville National Historic SiteIn the later 20th century, the site of a former Confederate prisoner-of-war camp from the American Civil War was established as the Andersonville National Historic Site. The site includes the prison location, the national cemetery, and a prisoner of war museum. During the war, about 45,000 Union prisoners were held there, and around 12,913 died.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Jud McCranie at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
East Asia
Expo '70 Opens in OsakaExpo '70, the first world's fair held in Japan and Asia, opened on March 15, 1970, in Suita, Osaka Prefecture. Running for 183 days, its theme was 'Progress and Harmony for Mankind.' The exposition showcased technological and cultural achievements, symbolizing Japan's post-war economic rise and growing international presence.
Start of the Great Proletarian Cultural RevolutionIn 1966, CCP Chairman Mao Zedong launched the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. Marked by the issuance of the May 16 Notification, the movement aimed to preserve communism by purging capitalist and traditional remnants. This nationwide sociopolitical movement lasted a decade and profoundly impacted Chinese society.
Establishment of Hallasan National ParkHallasan National Park was designated in 1970 in Jeju Province, South Korea, centered on Mount Hallasan. Covering approximately 153 square kilometers, it became the ninth national park in the country. Established to protect the unique volcanic landscape and ecosystems of the island, the site was later inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list for its outstanding natural value.
North Africa
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War of AttritionThe War of Attrition was a limited war fought between Egypt and Israel from 1967 to 1970. It began after Israel occupied the Sinai Peninsula in the Six-Day War, with Egypt aiming to create favorable negotiation conditions through attrition to regain the territory. The conflict unfolded along the Suez Canal ceasefire line and involved Jordan, the Palestine Liberation Organisation, and others. By the 1970 ceasefire, the lines remained unchanged and Egypt's objectives were not achieved.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Israel Press and Photo Agency (I.P.P.A.) photographer / CC BY 4.0 ↗
South Asia
Outbreak of the Vietnam WarIn 1955, armed conflict erupted between the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) and the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), marking the start of the Vietnam War. This war was simultaneously a civil war, a Cold War proxy war, and a postcolonial independence conflict, with North Vietnam backed by the Soviet Union and China, and South Vietnam supported by the United States and other anti-communist nations. The fighting later spread to Laos and Cambodia, ending with all three countries under communist rule in 1975.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. U.S. Marine Corps. James K. F. Dung, SFC, Photographer Ronald L. Haeberle / Public domain ↗
Around 1970
These are known only to the century, not to the year. They are listed separately so a rough date is never mistaken for an exact one.
- Beginning of the Digital Revolution
- Completion of the Taipei Grand Mosque
- Establishment of Women's Suffrage Worldwide
- Establishment of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
- Construction of Grimeton Longwave Radio Station
- Construction of the Trans-Iranian Railway begins
- Construction of the 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright Begins
- Construction of the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in 'The Centre of Heaven and Earth'