2002
Euro notes enter pockets
On New Year's Day twelve European countries swapped their familiar lira, francs, marks, and pesetas for crisp new bills printed with imaginary bridges and windows, symbols of openness and connection. The largest currency conversion in history went off without queues or riots. A continent that had spent the twentieth century slaughtering itself was now sharing a wallet.
East Timor independence
After four hundred years of Portuguese colonial rule and twenty-four bloody years under Indonesian military occupation that killed perhaps a third of the population, the half-island of Timor-Leste raised its own flag at last. Xanana Gusmao, once a guerrilla in the mountains, became its first president. It was the first new sovereign nation of the twenty-first century.
SARS jumps from a Guangdong market
A novel coronavirus emerged in southern China and spread through hospitals from Hong Kong to Toronto, killing nearly eight hundred people in eight months. The world health system improvised quarantines and learned about superspreaders. In retrospect it was a dress rehearsal for COVID-19, watched mostly with relief that the curtain had fallen early.
Brazil wins fifth World Cup
Ronaldo, redeemed after his mysterious collapse in the 1998 final four years earlier, scored twice in Yokohama as Brazil beat Germany to win its record fifth World Cup. The samba football of Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, and Ronaldo briefly reminded everyone what attacking joy looked like. It would be Brazil's last men's title for a long time.
Bali nightclub bombings
Two bombs ripped through tourist bars in the Kuta Beach district on Indonesia's holiday island of Bali, killing 202 people, mostly young Australians on holiday. Jemaah Islamiyah, a Southeast Asian al-Qaeda affiliate, claimed responsibility. The attack pulled the global war on terror eastward into the archipelago and permanently reshaped how Australia thought about its near neighborhood.
Want 2002 in context? Print the whole 21st century as a one-sheet timeline chart.
Frequently asked
What happened in the year 2002?
Saeculum lists 5 curated events from 2002. The most significant is Euro notes enter pockets: On New Year's Day twelve European countries swapped their familiar lira, francs, marks, and pesetas for crisp new bills printed with imaginary bridges…
What era was 2002 part of?
2002 falls within the Contemporary (2001-2026). Networks, climate, and the new uncertainty.
Which regions saw notable events in 2002?
The curated events from 2002 span Europe, Southeast Asia, East Asia and South America.