Collapse of communism and the end of the cold war

Collapse of the Berlin wall

German reunification.

Rise of conservatism in political and cultural life, caused by Margaret Thatcher in the UK and Ronald Reagan in the USA

Argentina invaded and occupied the Falkland islands and was subsequently defeated by the United Kingdom

Student protest in Tiananmen Square in China

John Lennon is shot outside his New York apartment

Famine in Ethiopia was shown to the world on our television screens and Live Aid concert was the response: the most popular stars contributed their time and performed for free in cities throughout the world.

Internet invented by English physicist Tim Berners

The 80's signaled the start of the computer age, following on from the creation of Microsoft and Apple towards the end of the 70's.

The birth of the IBM PC signaled the start of Personal Computers first in the Offices and then, into peoples homes. Becoming an integral part of our lives. following on from MicrsoftsMSDOS on PC'sto the first versions of Windows a GUI Graphical User Interface

The 80's also signaled the age of the video game in arcades, games machines and PC's, the most popular games being: Space Invaders and Pac Man

Another technology that was also just starting, was that of cellular mobile phones. In the beginning the phones were big and heavy and hit and miss for signal strength

The marriage of the decade: Prince Charles married a kindergarden teacher named Diana Spencer.

MTV (Music Television) was launched

The Simpsons is first seen on Tracey Ullman show

Michael Jackson releases his second adult solo album, Thriller. Madonna becomes the queen of Pop

Shows like Miami Vice & Dallas achieve top ratings