19581962

1958–1962 denotes a four-year span in world history marked by Cold War tensions, rapid decolonization, and rapid advances in science and technology. It covers a period in which geopolitical conflict, political realignment, and social change shaped many regions.

In international affairs, the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961, symbolizing the division of Europe during the Cold War. The Cuban Revolution arrived earlier, with ongoing tensions between the United States and Cuba culminating in the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. The space race intensified as NASA was established in 1958, Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space in 1961, and subsequent missions continued to push the boundaries of astronautics. The Sino-Indian War erupted in 1962, highlighting regional rivalries in Asia. Meanwhile, decolonization accelerated: Nigeria (1960), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1960) and many other states gained independence, while Algeria secured independence in 1962 after a long struggle.

In science and industry, the period saw the maturation of the integrated circuit (1958) and broader advances in consumer and military technologies that would shape later decades. In China, the Great Leap Forward (1958–1962) aimed at rapid modernization but led to widespread famine and social upheaval. The era also saw the early development of civil rights activism in the United States, with sit-ins and advocacy laying groundwork for later national legislation.

Overall, 1958–1962 was a transitional phase that reshaped political borders, spurred technological progress, and redefined global power dynamics during the early Cold War era.