2000
Key events from 2000
2000
The dawn of a new millennium—the world holds its breath for Y2K, a dot-com empire crumbles, and a former KGB officer takes power in Moscow, setting the stage for decades to come.
🌍 Key World Events
| Date | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Y2K passes without major incidents | Despite fears of global computer failures, careful preparation prevents catastrophic breakdowns in critical systems. |
| Mar 26 | Vladimir Putin elected Russian President | Former KGB officer begins consolidating power, starting an era of authoritarian rule that reshapes Russia and global politics. |
| Oct 12 | USS Cole bombing in Yemen | Al-Qaeda attack kills 17 U.S. sailors, foreshadowing escalating terrorist threats against American interests. |
| Nov 7 | 2000 U.S. Presidential election begins recount | Bush vs. Gore election becomes historic constitutional crisis, ultimately decided by Supreme Court after Florida recount battle. |
| Sep 28 | Second Intifada begins in Israel/Palestine | Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation marks return to violence after Oslo peace process failures. |
🧪 Science & Technology
- Dot-com bubble peaks (Mar 10) then crashes — NASDAQ reaches 5,048 before beginning devastating collapse, wiping out trillions in market value.
- Human Genome Project announces rough draft — Scientists complete working draft of human DNA sequence, revolutionizing medicine and biology.
- Camera phones introduced in Japan — Sharp’s J-SH04 becomes first mass-market camera phone, transforming photography and social media.
- PlayStation 2 released (Mar 4 in Japan) — Sony’s console becomes best-selling gaming system of all time with 155 million units sold.
- USB flash drives become commercially available, beginning the end of floppy disks.
🎨 Culture & Society
- “Survivor” premieres on CBS (May 31) — Reality TV phenomenon launches, changing television entertainment landscape.
- “Gladiator” wins Best Picture — Russell Crowe’s Roman epic revives the historical action genre.
- “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” published, continuing the series’ unprecedented global literary phenomenon.
- Napster reaches peak with 80 million users — File-sharing service revolutionizes music distribution before legal battles shut it down.
- “Pokémon” craze dominates youth culture worldwide, spanning games, cards, TV shows, and merchandise.
👶 Notable Births
| Name | Born | Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Willow Smith | Oct 31 | Singer, actress, and daughter of Will Smith. |
⚰️ Notable Deaths
- Charles Schulz (Feb 12) — Beloved creator of “Peanuts” comic strip featuring Charlie Brown and Snoopy.
- Sir Alec Guinness (Aug 5) — Legendary British actor known for Star Wars and Bridge on the River Kwai.
- Steve Reeves (May 1) — Iconic bodybuilder and Hercules actor.
📚 Quick Facts & Trivia
- Millennium Celebrations: Global festivities mark the year 2000, though technically the new millennium begins in 2001.
- Dot-com Casualties: Pets.com, Webvan, and hundreds of other internet companies collapse after burning through billions in venture capital.
- Bush v. Gore: Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision ends Florida recount after 36 days, giving Bush the presidency by 537 votes.
- Global Population: World population reaches approximately 6.1 billion people.
- Summer Olympics held in Sydney, Australia — First Olympics of the new millennium showcases Australian culture and athletic excellence.