Year by year · 20th century

1970

1970 in world history: 15 events, 3 births, 19 deaths, 1 work, 2 states founded and 4 that came to an end. 232 recorded states existed that year.

Events

  1. 1 January

    The Unix epoch: the zero point of computer time

    Midnight UTC on this date was later chosen as the reference point from which Unix and its descendants count time in seconds. The convention still underpins timekeeping on most of the world's computers and phones.

  2. 12 January

    Biafra announces its surrender, ending the Nigerian Civil War

    Biafra's acting leader Philip Effiong announced the end of the secessionist state's resistance. Between half a million and two million people had died, many from famine caused by the blockade.

  3. 5 March

    Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty enters into force

    The treaty committed nuclear powers not to spread weapons and others not to acquire them, while promoting peaceful nuclear energy. With 191 parties, it is the most widely joined arms control agreement.

  4. 11 April

    Apollo 13 lifts off for the Moon

    Apollo 13 launched from Kennedy Space Center. Two days out an oxygen tank exploded, the lunar landing was abandoned, and the crew used the lunar module as a lifeboat to return safely.

  5. 22 April

    Millions mark the first Earth Day

    Some 20 million Americans joined rallies and teach-ins for the first Earth Day. Its momentum helped create the Environmental Protection Agency later that year.

  6. 4 May

    National Guard kills four students at Kent State

    Ohio National Guardsmen fired on students protesting the US invasion of Cambodia, killing four and wounding nine. The shootings set off a nationwide student strike.

    Cambodia

  7. 31 May

    Earthquake and avalanche devastate northern Peru

    A magnitude 7.9 earthquake set off an avalanche from Huascarán that buried the town of Yungay. About 70,000 people died, making it Peru's worst natural disaster.

  8. 18 September

    Jimi Hendrix dies in London aged 27

    Guitarist Jimi Hendrix died in London after taking barbiturates. In four years of fame he had transformed the electric guitar with his use of feedback, distortion and virtuoso technique.

    London

  9. 12 November

    The Bhola cyclone devastates East Pakistan

    A cyclone and storm surge struck the coast of East Pakistan, killing perhaps 300,000 to 500,000 people. Anger at the government's response fed the movement that led to Bangladesh's independence.

    Pakistan

  10. 17 November

    Luna 17 lands Lunokhod 1 on the Moon

    The Soviet Luna 17 landed in the Sea of Rains and released Lunokhod 1, the first remote-controlled rover on another world. Driven from Earth, it travelled about 10 kilometres over ten months.

  11. Revolt

    Koza riot

    The Koza riot was an outbreak of violence in the city of Koza, now Okinawa City, on the night of 20 December 1970, during the American administration of Okinawa.

  12. Revolution

    Black Power Revolution

    The Black Power Revolution was a wave of protests in Trinidad and Tobago in February–April 1970, led by students and the National Joint Action Committee, demanding economic power for Afro- and Indo-Trinidadians.

ProfileState228 states with a known seat in 1970Open the atlas at 1970 →

In the profiles

  • AndorraAndorran women gain the vote
  • South YemenThe country is renamed the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen

Wars and longer events

Born in 1970 3

Died in 1970 19

Works 1

States founded 2

States that came to an end 4

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). 1970. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1970
MLA
“1970.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1970. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “1970.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1970.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘1970’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1970 (Accessed: ).