1991
Soviet Union dissolved
At 7:32 p.m.
Mount Pinatubo Erupts
The second-largest volcanic eruption of the twentieth century blew the top off Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, ejecting ten cubic kilometers of ash…
Gulf War begins
At 2:38 a.m.
Yugoslavia begins to break up
Slovenia and Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia, shattering the post-war federation that Tito had held together.
World Wide Web opens to the public
Tim Berners-Lee posted a short message to an obscure internet newsgroup announcing the availability of the WorldWideWeb project and its software.
Soviet coup attempt
Hardliners in the Communist Party placed Mikhail Gorbachev under house arrest at his Crimea dacha and announced themselves as the new leadership.
Yeltsin elected Russian president
Boris Yeltsin won the first direct presidential election in Russian history with fifty-seven percent of the vote.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1991?
Saeculum lists 7 events from 1991. The most significant is Soviet Union dissolved: At 7:32 p.m. Moscow time, Mikhail Gorbachev announced his resignation on television.
What era was 1991 part of?
1991 falls within the Modern Era (1901-2000). World wars, cold war, and the splitting of the atom.
Which regions saw notable events in 1991?
The events from 1991 span Europe, Southeast Asia and Middle East.