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What happened in 1995?

19 events across 8 world regions, each with its sources.

See 1995 on the map

Europe

  • First Chechen War

    1994–1996Chechnya

    From 1994 to 1996, war broke out in Chechnya between the Russian Federation and the separatist Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. It ended with a ceasefire agreement in 1996, after which Russian forces withdrew from Chechnya. About three years later, Russia invaded again, triggering the Second Chechen War.

    SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Derivative work: Ostrovsky Gregory / CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

  • Croatian War of Independence

    1991–1995Zagreb

    Fought in Croatia from 1991 to 1995, the war followed Croatia’s declaration of independence from the SFRY. Forces loyal to the Croatian government battled the Serb‑controlled Yugoslav People’s Army and local Serb forces. The conflict formed a key part of Yugoslavia’s breakup.

    SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗

  • Establishment of the World Trade Organization

    1995

    The World Trade Organization was established on 1 January 1995, pursuant to the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement, succeeding the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) of 1948. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, it is the world's largest international economic organization, with 166 members representing over 98% of global trade and GDP.

    SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: World Trade Organization from Switzerland / CC BY-SA 2.0 ↗

  • Inscription of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

    1995World Heritage

    The Cultural Landscape of Sintra in Portugal was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Located in the Sintra mountains, it became the first centre of European Romantic architecture in the 19th century. King Ferdinand II transformed a ruined monastery into the Pena Palace, blending Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance elements, and created a park with native and exotic trees. The unique combination of parks and gardens influenced landscape architecture throughout Europe.

    SourcesUNESCO World Heritage listing ↗Image: Daria Virbanescu / CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

  • Operation Storm

    1995

    Operation Storm was the last major battle of the Croatian War of Independence and a major factor in the outcome of the Bosnian War. From 4 to 7 August 1995, the Croatian Army attacked the Republic of Serbian Krajina along a 630-kilometre front, achieving a decisive victory; the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina also gained a strategic victory. The offensive aimed to recapture approximately 10,400 square kilometres of territory and was the largest land battle in Europe since the end of World War II.

    SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: CIA, from "Balkan Battlegrounds", 2003 / Public domain ↗

  • Conclusion of the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement

    1995

    On 16 June 1995, the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds was concluded at The Hague. Developed under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme's Convention on Migratory Species, it aims to protect waterbird species migrating between Europe and Africa, covering a geographic range from the Arctic to South Africa, including Canada and the Middle East.

    SourcesWikipedia ↗

  • Siege of Sarajevo

    1992–1996

    From 5 April 1992 to 29 February 1996, Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, endured a prolonged siege. The blockade began under the Yugoslav People's Army and was later maintained by the Army of Republika Srpska. It remains the longest siege of a capital in modern warfare.

    SourcesWikipedia ↗

Central & South America

North America

West Asia

Central Asian steppe

East Asia

  • Great Hanshin Earthquake

    1995

    On January 17, 1995, a strong earthquake struck the southern part of Hyōgo Prefecture, including the Kobe–Hanshin area, at 05:46 JST. The hypocenter lay beneath the northern end of Awaji Island at about 17 km depth, roughly 20 km from central Kobe. Official figures list 6,434 deaths, 43,792 injuries, and about 320,000 people moving into temporary housing.

    SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: matanao / CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗

South Asia

Sub-Saharan Africa

  • Establishment of Mapungubwe National Park

    1995World Heritage

    Mapungubwe National Park was established in 1995 in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Located near the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers, close to the borders with Botswana and Zimbabwe, the park covers over 28,000 hectares. It encompasses the Mapungubwe Hill archaeological site from the Iron Age, which is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: JJ van Zyl / CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗

Around 1995

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

    c. 1947–2000Silicon Valley (Santa Clara Valley), California, USA

  • Completion of the Taipei Grand Mosque

    c. 1901–2000

  • Establishment of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park

    c. 1901–2000

  • Construction of Grimeton Longwave Radio Station

    c. 1901–2000

  • Construction of the Trans-Iranian Railway begins

    c. 1901–2000

  • Construction of the 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright Begins

    c. 1901–2000

  • Construction of the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in 'The Centre of Heaven and Earth'

    c. 1901–2000

  • Establishment of the Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains

    c. 1901–2000