HistoryData

What Happened in 1979

42 historical events, 48 notable births, and 13 notable deaths in 1979.

Major Events

January 1979

culture

Eurovision Song Contest 1979 — 24th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest

sports

1979 Formula One season — sports season

politics

Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats — treaty

general

1979 Copa América — 1979 edition of the Copa América association football competition

politics

Moon Treaty — international treaty that turns jurisdiction of all celestial bodies over to the international community

general

1979–80 UEFA Cup — 9th season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA

politics

Bonn Convention — treaty

culture

1979 in film — overview of the events of 1979 in film

sports

EuroBasket 1979 — regional basketball championship

sports

1979 Cricket World Cup — 1979 World Cup in England

general

1979 energy crisis — 1979 petroleum shortage

sports

1979 FIFA World Youth Championship — international football competition

general

1979 European Super Cup — tournament

general

1979 Argentine Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1979

sports

1979 Summer Universiade — multi-sport event in Mexico City, Mexico

December 1979

general

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women — international bill of rights for women

general

Grand Mosque Seizure — islamists' terrorist action, 1979

general

Tajbeg Palace assault — 1979 Soviet assassination of Afghan leader Hafizullah Amin

November 1979

general

Iran hostage crisis — 1979–1981 diplomatic standoff between the US and Iran

general

Air New Zealand Flight 901 — November 1979 aviation accident in Antarctica

March 1979

general

Three Mile Island accident — nuclear accident

politics

Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty — 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel

general

1979 South African Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1979

June 1979

general

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks — two rounds of bilateral conferences and corresponding international treaties involving the United States and the Soviet Union

April 1979

war

51st Academy Awards — award ceremony presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for achievement in filmmaking in 1978

general

1979 Spanish Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1979

May 1979

general

American Airlines Flight 191 — 1979 aviation accident in Chicago, Illinois, United States

general

1979 European Cup Final — association football match

general

1979 Monaco Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1979

politics

1979 United Kingdom general election — election for members of the British House of Commons

general

1979 Belgian Grand Prix — Formula One race

general

disappearance of Etan Patz — American boy who disappeared in 1979

February 1979

general

Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict — indirect conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia

September 1979

general

Vela incident — 1979 unidentified double flash of light

sports

1979 Mediterranean Games — 8th edition of the Mediterranean Games

July 1979

general

1979 French Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1979

general

1979 British Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1979

general

1979 German Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1979

August 1979

general

1979 Dniprodzerzhynsk mid-air collision — 1979 aviation accident

general

1979 Dutch Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1979

October 1979

general

1979 United States Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1979