1981

1981 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. It was marked by major political turnovers and notable cultural events around the world. In the United States, Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as the 40th president on January 20, and the Iran hostage crisis ended with the release of the remaining hostages later that day.

On the international stage, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated on October 6 during a military parade in Cairo; Hosni Mubarak was named successor and began a long presidency. In December, the Polish government declared martial law to suppress the Solidarity movement.

In science and technology, the space shuttle program began with the launch of Columbia on April 12, STS-1. The U.S. introduced the IBM PC in August, and MTV launched on August 1, shaping music and pop culture. In public health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported the first cases of what would later be known as AIDS in 1981.

Cultural moments included the release of Raiders of the Lost Ark and the wedding of Britain's Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer on July 29, which captured global attention. The year also saw social unrest in parts of the United Kingdom, including riots in major cities.