1981
AIDS first reported
The CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report described five unusual pneumonia cases in Los Angeles, all in young gay men.
Sadat assassinated
During a military parade in Cairo, Islamist soldiers jumped down from a truck and shot Egyptian President Anwar Sadat…
Pope shot in St. Peter's Square
A Turkish gunman fired four shots at Pope John Paul II as he rode through St. Peter's Square in an open car, hitting him in the abdomen.
IBM PC launches
IBM introduced its Personal Computer running Microsoft's DOS, and business discovered it could put a computer on every desk.
Reagan shot
Seventy days into his presidency, Ronald Reagan was shot outside a Washington hotel by a young man trying to impress the actress Jodie Foster.
Iran hostages released
After four hundred forty-four days in captivity, the fifty-two American hostages in Tehran were flown to freedom in the hour after Ronald Reagan…
Charles and Diana wed
At St. Paul's Cathedral, the thirty-two-year-old Prince of Wales married the twenty-year-old Lady Diana Spencer before a global television audience…
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1981?
Saeculum lists 7 events from 1981. The most significant is AIDS first reported: The CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report described five unusual pneumonia cases in Los Angeles, all in young gay men.
What era was 1981 part of?
1981 falls within the Modern Era (1901-2000). World wars, cold war, and the splitting of the atom.
Which regions saw notable events in 1981?
The events from 1981 span North America, Middle East and Europe.