1983

1983 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. It saw notable developments in international politics, science and technology, and culture.

On the political front, U.S. President Ronald Reagan announced the Strategic Defense Initiative on March 23, signaling a new emphasis on missile defense. The United States led the invasion of Grenada from October 25 to December 15, 1983, followed by stabilization and withdrawal. In the Philippines, opposition leader Ninoy Aquino was assassinated on August 21 at Manila International Airport, precipitating a long-running political crisis. The Soviet–Afghan War continued to influence security dynamics in the region.

In science and technology, January 1 marked the ARPANET’s transition to the TCP/IP protocol, a foundational step in the development of the Internet. Sally Ride became the first American woman in space on June 18, launching aboard STS-7. Apple introduced the Lisa personal computer in 1983. The Nintendo Famicom debuted in Japan, laying the groundwork for the later Nintendo Entertainment System release abroad. Motorola released the DynaTAC 8000X, the first commercially available handheld cellular phone.

In culture, 1983 saw notable releases in games and film. The arcade game Mario Bros. appeared in 1983, and major films such as Return of the Jedi, released May 25, and Scarface, released December 9, shaped popular culture for years to come.