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Millennia: 2nd millennium Centuries: 19th century - 20th century - 21st century Decades: 1960s 1970s 1980s - 1990s - 2000s 2010s 2020s Years: 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Categories: Births - Deaths - Architecture Establishments - Disestablishments For the band, see 1990s (band). The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999. During this time, the widespread adoption of personal computers, the Internet and the increased economic productivity led to the equity market booms around the world, and made many Americans, Asians, and Western Europeans very wealthy. These pages contain the trends of millennia and centuries. ... On the Gregorian calendar, the 2nd millennium commenced on 1 January 1001, and ended at the end of 31 December 2000. ... These pages contain the trends of millennia and centuries. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... 20XX redirects here. ... This is a list of decades which have articles with more information about them. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... This article is about the decade of 2000-2009. ... The 2010s decade is a period of 10 pooping years that begins on January 1, 2010 and later ends on December 31, 2019 inclusive. ... The 2020s is the 3rd decade of the 21st century of the Anno Domini (common) era. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... 1990s are an indie rock three-piece band from Glasgow. ... This article is about the year. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... The tower of a personal computer. ... --158. ... During the 1990s public bigotry also became largely a thing of the past and racial prejudice lost moral acceptance; thus the concept of multi-culturalism was popular. Manifestations Slavery Racial profiling Lynching Hate speech Hate crime Genocide (examples) Ethnocide Ethnic cleansing Pogrom Race war Religious persecution Gay bashing Blood libel Paternalism Police brutality Movements Policies Discriminatory Race / Religion / Sex segregation Apartheid Redlining Internment Anti-discriminatory Emancipation Civil rights Desegregation Integration Equal opportunity Counter-discriminatory Affirmative action Racial... Multiculturalism or cultural pluralism is a policy, ideal, or reality that emphasizes the unique characteristics of different cultures in the world, especially as they relate to one another in immigrant receiving nations. ... Contents 1 Economics 1.1 World-changing events 2 Social Trends 3 Science 4 Technology 4.1 Hardware 4.2 Software 4.3 Computer and video games 4.3.1 Popular video games of the 1990s 5 Culture 5.1 Cultural Trends 5.2 Fashion 5.3 Music 5.4 Television 5.5 Internet 6 International Issues 6.1 In Africa 6.2 In Asia 6.3 In Canada 6.4 In Europe 6.4.1 In Eastern Europe 6.5 In Latin America 6.6 In the Middle East 6.6.1 In the United Kingdom 6.7 In the United States 6.8 Significant events 6.9 Other significant events 7 People 7.1 World leaders 7.2 Entertainers 7.3 Films 7.4 Books and literature 7.5 Sports figures 8 See also 9 External links [edit] Economics The U.S stock market rise of the 1990s. Despite economic prosperity and democracy, there were problems in the 1990s that became more visible after the decade ended. In Africa a rapid increase in incidence of AIDS contributed to falling life expectancy and zero or negative growth rates. In the former Soviet Union GDP decreased as their economies restructured to produce goods they needed and some capital flight occurred. Financial crises in the developing world after 1994 (i.e. the Asian economic crises of 1997) began to undermine some support for a global economy. A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... For other uses, see AIDS (disambiguation). ... This article is about the measure of remaining life. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Seen in Asian markets in the 1990s capital flight is when assets and/or money rapidly flow out of a country. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Many countries, institutions, companies, and organizations experienced the 1990s as a prosperous time. Despite the recession that affected much of the world in the late 1980s, high income economies such as the United States, Canada, Ireland, Australia, and South Korea experienced steady economic growth for much of the decade. The recession of the late nineteen-eighties was an economic recession that hit much of the world beginning in 1987. ... In many countries, political stability and decreased militarization due to the winding down of the Cold War led to economic development and higher standards of living for many citizens. These trends were also fueled by inexpensive fossil energy, with low petroleum prices caused by a glut of oil. Oil and gas were discovered in many countries in the former Soviet bloc, leading to economic growth and wider adoption of trade between nations, but the 15 new nations of the old USSR, plus Russia, struggled to adjust to the new economic reality. Consequently, the decade ended in a painful recession for it. For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... This article is about economic exchange. ... US economy ends the decade with a 4% unemployment rate, personal incomes doubled from the recession in 1990, overall higher productivity. After the 1996 Welfare Reform act there was a great reduction of poverty rates, and the Wall Street stock exchange stayed over the 10,000 mark from 1999 to 2001. After 1992 the booming of the US stock market, in reference to which Alan Greenspan coined the memorable phrase "irrational exuberance", eventually merged into the dot-com boom / dot-com bubble (2000 – 2001). GATT update and creation of the World Trade Organization and other global economic institutions, but opposition by anti-globalization activists showed up in nearly every GATT summit, like the demonstrations in Seattle in December 1999. With the creation of the E.U. there is free movement of labor between member states, such as the 1992 and 1995 free trade agreements. The EU agreed to have a single currency, and the Euro began circulation in March 1999 in 15 member states. Philippines shown a great economic development after The People Power revolt. The economy gains 5% from its deficit until the Asian financial crisis of 1997. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which phases out trade barriers between the United States, Mexico and Canada is signed into law by U.S. President Bill Clinton. From 1990 until 1998 inclusive, the economy of Russia and some former USSR states was in a severe depression. Eastern European economies struggled after the fall of communism, but Poland, Hungary, Estonia and Lithuania saw healthy economic growth rates in the late 1990s. Except for Great Britain and Ireland, much of Europe had serious economic problems, such as the massive 1995 general strikes in France during its worst recession since World War II. The French economy mildly rebounds at the end of the decade. Democracy, economic reform and peace arrive in Latin America, while the sluggish economies of Brazil, by a new emphasis on free markets for all their citizens, and Mexico, under economist president Ernesto Zedillo elected in 1994, were their best shape by the late 1990s. Financial crisis hits East and Southeast Asia in 1997 and 1998 after a long period of phenomenal economic development. Japan was heavily affected, as was Indonesia when the 30-year rule of President Suharto ended in his resignation after widespread protests in May 1998. See East Asian Tigers. Overview The United States has the largest economy by country, second-largest by economic union (after the EU), and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $39,689 (2nd Quarter 2004 annualized) . In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most... CIA figures for world unemployment rates, 2006 Unemployment is the state in which a person is without work, available to work, and is currently seeking work. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Welfare reform is the name for a policy change in countries with a state-administered social welfare system to reduce dependence on welfare, as demanded by political conservatives. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... A stock market is a market for the trading of company stock, and derivatives of same; both of these are securities listed on a stock exchange as well as those only traded privately. ... Squalltoonix (born March 6, 1926 in New York City) is an American economist and was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve of the United States from 1987 to 2006. ... Irrational exuberance is a phrase used by Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan in a speech given during the stock market boom of the 1990s. ... The dot-com bubble was a speculative bubble covering roughly 1995–2001 during which stock markets in Western nations saw their value increase rapidly from growth in the new Internet sector and related fields. ... General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (usually abbreviated GATT) functions as the foundation of the WTO trading system, and remains in force, although the 1995 Agreement contains an updated version of it to replace the original 1947 one. ... WTO redirects here. ... City nickname Emerald City City bird Great Blue Heron City flower Dahlia City mottos The City of Flowers The City of Goodwill City song Seattle, the Peerless City Mayor Greg Nickels County King County Area   - Total   - Land   - Water   - % water 369. ... EU redirects here. ... For other uses, see Euro (disambiguation). ... The EDSA Revolution, also referred to as the People Power Revolution and the Philippine Revolution of 1986, was a mostly nonviolent mass demonstration in the Philippines. ... The East Asian Financial Crisis was a period of economic unrest (or financial contagion) that started in July 1997 in Thailand and South Korea with the financial collapse of Kia, and affected currencies, stock markets, and other asset prices in Asian countries, many considered Four Asian Tigers. ... NAFTA redirects here. ... For the pop band, see Presidents of the United States of America. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... State motto (Russian): Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Transliterated: Proletarii vsekh stran, soedinyaytes!) (Translated: Workers of the world, unite!) Capital Moscow Official language None; Russian (de facto) Government Federation of Soviet republics Area  - Total  - % water 1st before collapse 22,402,200 km² Approx. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León (born December 27, 1951) was President of Mexico from 1994 to 2000. ... The Asian financial crisis was a financial crisis that started in July 1997 in Thailand and affected currencies, stock markets, and other asset prices in several Asian countries, many considered East Asian Tigers. ... This article is about the geographical region. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Suharto GCB (born June 8, 1921) is a former Indonesian military and political leader. ... Map of East Asian Tigers  Hong Kong  Singapore South Korea  Taiwan, Republic of China Skyline of Hong Kong Island, taken from Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong The skyline of Singapores Central Business District (CBD) seen here at dusk Taipei is Taiwans largest city and financial center. ... [edit] World-changing events Significant events that occurred during or after 1990 which would influence the course of history and character of the decade, include: The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 2, 1990. The German reunification in October 3, 1990 as a result of the fall of the Berlin Wall The resignation of Margaret Thatcher as leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister of the UK followed by the election and appointment of John Major as her successor on November 28, 1990. The Moscow Coup and subsequent break-up of the Soviet Union on December 21, 1991. Significant events that marked the passing of the decade include: Combatants Republic of Iraq State of Kuwait Commanders Ali Hassan al-Majid N/A Strength 100,000[1] 16,000[2] Casualties 37+ aircraft (est. ... is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... This article is about the 1990 German reunification. ... is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... View in 1986 from the west side of graffiti art on the walls infamous death strip Walls poster in memory of the fall. ... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (née Roberts; born 13 October 1925) served as British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990 and leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 until 1990, being the first and only woman to hold either post. ... The Conservative Party, officially though less commonly known as the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is, in practice, the political leader of the United Kingdom. ... For other persons named John Major, see John Major (disambiguation). ... is the 332nd day of the year (333rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Soviet Coup of 1991 or the August Coup crushed the hopes of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that he could at least hold the union together in a decentralized form. ... is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... The resignation of President Boris Yeltsin on December 31, 1999 resulting in Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's succession to the position World-wide New Year's Eve celebrations on December 31, 1999. Worldwide concern about possible widespread computer malfunctions resulting from the Year 2000 problem. The President of Russia (ru: Президент России) is the highest position within the Government of Russia. ... “Yeltsin” redirects here. ... is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... The Prime Minister of Russia (Russian: Председатель Правительства, Chairman of the Government) is the current Head of Government of the Russian Federation. ... is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... This article is about the millennial computer glitch. ... [edit] Social Trends [edit] Science Hubble Space Telescope Physicists develop string theory and M-theory. Detection of extrasolar planets orbiting stars other than the sun. Dolly the sheep is cloned. Human Genome Project begins. DNA identification of individuals finds wide application in criminal law. Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990; revolutionizes astronomy. Protease inhibitors introduced allowing HAART therapy against HIV; drastically reduces AIDS mortality. NASA's spacecraft Pathfinder lands on Mars and deploys a small roving vehicle, Sojourner, which analyzes the planet's geology and atmosphere. The Hale-Bopp comet swings past the sun for the first time in 4,200 years in April 1997. Development of biodegradable products, replacing products made from Styrofoam; advances in methods for recycling of waste products (such as paper, glass, aluminum). Genetically engineered crops are developed for commercial use. Discovery of dark matter, dark energy, brown dwarfs, and first confirmation of black holes. The Galileo probe orbits Jupiter, studying the planet and its moons extensively. The Global Positioning System (GPS) becomes fully operational. Proof of Fermat's last theorem is discovered by Andrew Wiles. Construction starts on the International Space Station - 1996 Image File history File links Download high resolution version (945x766, 76 KB) Hubble Space Telescope as seen from the Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-82. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (945x766, 76 KB) Hubble Space Telescope as seen from the Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-82. ... The Hubble Space Telescope (HST; also known colloquially as the Hubble or just Hubble) is a space telescope that was carried into Earth orbit by the Space Shuttle in April 1990. ... This box:      String theory is a still developing mathematical approach to theoretical physics, whose original building blocks are one-dimensional extended objects called strings. ... M-theory is a solution proposed for the unknown theory of everything which would combine all five superstring theories and 11-dimensional supergravity together. ... An extrasolar planet, or exoplanet, is a planet beyond the Solar System. ... This article is about the astronomical object. ... Dolly (July 5, 1996 – February 14, 2003), a ewe, was the first mammal to have been successfully cloned from an adult somatic cell. ... For the cloning of human beings, see human cloning. ... The Human Genome Project (HGP) is an international scientific research project. ... The structure of part of a DNA double helix Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is a nucleic acid molecule that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms. ... The term criminal law, sometimes called penal law, refers to any of various bodies of rules in different jurisdictions whose common characteristic is the potential for unique and often severe impositions as punishment for failure to comply. ... The Hubble Space Telescope (HST; also known colloquially as the Hubble or just Hubble) is a space telescope that was carried into Earth orbit by the Space Shuttle in April 1990. ... This article is about the year. ... For other uses, see Astronomy (disambiguation). ... Protease inhibitors are a class of medication used to treat or prevent viral infections. ... The term antiretroviral drugs is used to describe drugs used against HIV infection (HIV is an RNA retrovirus). ... Species Human immunodeficiency virus 1 Human immunodeficiency virus 2 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections). ... For other uses, see AIDS (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see NASA (disambiguation). ... The Mars Pathfinder was launched on December 4, 1996 by NASA aboard a Delta II just a month after the Mars Global Surveyor was launched. ... Adjectives: Martian Atmosphere Surface pressure: 0. ... The Mars Pathfinder was launched on December 4, 1996 by NASA aboard a Delta II just a month after the Mars Global Surveyor was launched. ... A close-up of Hale-Bopp Comet Hale-Bopp (formally designated C/1995 O1) was probably the most widely observed comet of the 20th century, and one of the brightest seen for many decades. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... For other uses, see Polystyrene (disambiguation). ... The international recycling symbol. ... Kenyans examining insect-resistant transgenic Bt corn. ... For other uses, see Dark matter (disambiguation). ... In physical cosmology, dark energy is a hypothetical form of energy that permeates all of space and tends to increase the rate of expansion of the universe. ... This brown dwarf (smaller object) orbits the star Gliese 229, which is located in the constellation Lepus about 19 light years from Earth. ... For other uses, see Black hole (disambiguation). ... Galileo is prepared for mating with the IUS booster Galileo being deployed after being launched by the Space Shuttle Atlantis on the STS-34 mission Galileo was an unmanned spacecraft sent by NASA to study the planet Jupiter and its moons. ... For other uses, see Jupiter (disambiguation). ... GPS redirects here. ... Pierre de Fermats conjecture written in the margin of his copy of Arithmetica proved to be one of the most intriguing and enigmatic mathematical problems ever devised. ... For the French mathematician with work in the area of elliptic curves, see André Weil. ... ISS redirects here. ... [edit] Technology Some technologies invented and improved during the 1990s: Graphic representation of the WWW Download high resolution version (1185x853, 110 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Internet World Wide Web Wikipedia:Todays featured article/November 2004 Wikipedia:Todays featured article/November 1, 2004 Wikipedia:Bad Jokes and Other Deleted Nonsense/Encyclopædia BJAODNonica Wikipedia:Bad Jokes and Other... Download high resolution version (1185x853, 110 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Internet World Wide Web Wikipedia:Todays featured article/November 2004 Wikipedia:Todays featured article/November 1, 2004 Wikipedia:Bad Jokes and Other Deleted Nonsense/Encyclopædia BJAODNonica Wikipedia:Bad Jokes and Other... WWWs historical logo designed by Robert Cailliau The World Wide Web (commonly shortened to the Web) is a system of interlinked, hypertext documents accessed via the Internet. ... [edit] Hardware The Pentium processor is developed by Intel. Explosive growth of the Internet, perhaps caused by a decrease in the cost of computers and other technology. Advancements in computer modems, ISDN, cable modems and DSL lead to faster connection to the Internet. Pagers are initially popular but ultimately are replaced by mobile phones toward the end of the decade. Hand-held satellite phones are introduced towards the end of the decade. CD burner drives are introduced. Digital SLRs and regular Digital cameras become commercially available. The DVD media format is developed and popularized along with a plethora of Flash memory card standards. Apple introduces the iMac computer, initiating a trend in computer design towards translucent plastics and multicolor case design, discontinuing many legacy technologies like the serial ports, and beginning a resurgence in the company's fortunes that continues unabated to this day. IBM introduces the 1-inch wide Microdrive hard drive in 170 MB and 340 MB capacities. The first GSM network is launched in Finland in 1991 The first MP3 Player, the MPMan, is released in late spring of 1998. It came with 32Mb of flash memory expandable to 64Mb. The introduction of affordable, smaller satellite dishes and the DVB-S standard in the mid-1990s expanded satellite television services that carried up to 500 television channels. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC, SEHK: 4335), founded in 1968 as Integrated Electronics Corporation, is an American multinational corporation that is best known for designing and manufacturing microprocessors and specialized integrated circuits. ... This article is about the machine. ... A modem (a portmanteau word constructed from modulator and demodulator) is a device that modulates an analog carrier signal (sound), to encode digital information, and that also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. ... ISDN is also short for isosorbide dinitrate Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is a type of circuit switched telephone network system, designed to allow digital (as opposed to analog) transmission of voice and data over ordinary telephone copper wires, resulting in better quality and higher speeds, than available with analog... A cable modem is a special type of modem that is designed to modulate a data signal over cable television infrastructure. ... DSL redirects here. ... A pager is an electronic device used to contact people via a Paging (telecommunications) network. ... A stylised representation of a mobile phone A mobile phone is a device which behaves as a normal telephone whilst being able to move over a wide area ( cordless phone which acts as a telephone only within a limited range). ... A satellite telephone, satellite phone, or satphone is a mobile phone that communicates directly with orbiting communications satellites. ... A CD burner, CD recorder or CD writer is an internal or external writable Compact Disc drive that can be attached to a computer. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Look up digital camera in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... DVD (also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc - see Etymology) is a popular optical disc storage media format. ... Apple Inc. ... The original Bondi Blue iMac G3 was introduced in 1998. ... A male DE-9 connector used for a serial port on a PC style computer. ... For other uses, see IBM (disambiguation) and Big Blue. ... For other uses, see Microdrive (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see GSM (disambiguation). ... The MPMan F10 was the first portable solid state digital audio player sold in the North American Market, developed by SaeHan Information Systems which is headquartered in Seoul, Korea and imported by Eiger Labs, Inc. ... A Satellite dish antenna A satellite dish is a type of parabolic reflector antenna designed with the specific purpose of transmitting signals to and/or receiving from satellites. ... DVB, short for Digital Video Broadcasting, is a suite of internationally accepted, open standards for digital television maintained by the DVB Project, an industry consortium with more than 300 members, and published by a Joint Technical Committee (JTC) of European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC... [edit] Software The World Wide Web and HTML are created by Tim Berners-Lee and eventually displace the Gopher protocol. Microsoft introduces Windows 95 and later Windows 98 to the market, which gain immediate popularity. The development of Web browsers such as Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer makes surfing the World Wide Web easier and more user friendly. The Java programming language is developed by Sun Microsystems. Businesses start to build E-commerce websites; E-commerce-only companies such as Amazon.com, eBay, AOL, and Yahoo! grow rapidly. E-mail becomes popular; as a result Microsoft acquires the popular Hotmail.com webmail service. Instant Messaging and the Buddy list becomes popular. AIM and ICQ are two early protocols. The Year 2000 problem (commonly known as Y2K), the computer glitch disaster expected to happen on January 1, 2000. Microsoft Windows operating systems become virtually ubiquitous on IBM PCs. Development of the free Linux kernel is started by Linus Torvalds in Finland. WWWs historical logo designed by Robert Cailliau The World Wide Web (commonly shortened to the Web) is a system of interlinked, hypertext documents accessed via the Internet. ... HTML, an initialism of HyperText Markup Language, is the predominant markup language for web pages. ... Sir Tim Berners-Lee Sir Tim (Timothy John) Berners-Lee, KBE (TimBL or TBL) (b. ... Gopher is a distributed document search and retrieval network protocol designed for the Internet. ... Microsoft Corporation, (NASDAQ: MSFT, HKSE: 4338) is a multinational computer technology corporation with global annual revenue of US$44. ... Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. ... Windows 98 (codenamed Memphis) is a graphical operating system released on June 25, 1998 by Microsoft and the successor to Windows 95. ... An example of a Web browser (Mozilla Firefox) A web browser is a software application that enables a user to display and interact with text, images, videos, music and other information typically located on a Web page at a website on the World Wide Web or a local area network. ... For the web browser produced by this corporation, see Netscape (web browser). ... Windows Internet Explorer (formerly Microsoft Internet Explorer abbreviated MSIE), commonly abbreviated to IE, is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems starting in 1995. ... WWWs historical logo designed by Robert Cailliau The World Wide Web (commonly shortened to the Web) is a system of interlinked, hypertext documents accessed via the Internet. ... User-friendly is a term often used to describe software and other technologies. ... Java language redirects here. ... Sun Microsystems, Inc. ... Electronic commerce, EC, e-commerce or ecommerce consists primarily of the distributing, buying, selling, marketing, and servicing of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks. ... A website, Web site or WWW site (often shortened to just site) is a collection of webpages, that is, HTML/XHTML documents accessible via HTTP on the Internet; all publicly accessible websites in existence comprise the World Wide Web. ... Amazon. ... This article is about the online auction center. ... For other uses, see AOL (disambiguation). ... Yahoo redirects here. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Microsoft Corporation, (NASDAQ: MSFT, HKSE: 4338) is a multinational computer technology corporation with global annual revenue of US$44. ... Hotmails login page MSN Hotmail layout Hotmail is one of the popular free webmail email services, which are accessible from anywhere on the planet via a standard web browser. ... // Instant messaging (IM) is a form of real-time communication between two or more people based on typed text. ... AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) is a free, advertisement-supported proprietary instant messaging and presence computer program which uses the OSCAR instant messaging protocol and the TOC protocol. ... ICQ is an instant messaging computer program, which was first developed by the Israeli company Mirabilis, now owned by Time Warners AOL subsidiary. ... This article is about the millennial computer glitch. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Windows redirects here. ... IBM PC (IBM 5150) with keyboard and green screen monochrome monitor (IBM 5151), running MS-DOS 5. ... This article is about operating systems that use the Linux kernel. ... Linus Benedict Torvalds   (born December 28, 1969 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish software engineer best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel. ... [edit] Computer and video games 3-D graphics become the standard by end of decade. Although FPSs had long since seen the transition to full 3D, other genres begin to copy this trend by the end of the decade. Lara Croft became the first video game sex symbol, becoming a recognisable figure in the entertainment industry throughout the late 1990s. The console wars, primarily between Sega (Sega Mega Drive (marketed as the Sega Genesis in North America), introduced in 1988) and Nintendo (Super NES, introduced in 1990), sees the entrance of Sony with the PlayStation in 1994, which becomes the first successful CD-based console (as opposed to cartridges). By the end of the decade, Sega's hold on the market becomes tenuous after the end of the Saturn in 1994 and the Dreamcast in 2001. Mario finds a rival in Sonic the Hedgehog with the release of the original game on the Genesis in 1991. Arcade games rapidly decrease in popularity. Fighting games like Capcom's Street Fighter II, Sega's futuristic Virtua Fighter and the more violent Mortal Kombat from Acclaim prompted the video game industry to adopt a game rating system, and hundreds of knock-offs are widely popular in mid-to-late1990s. Sony's PlayStation becomes the top selling game console and changes the standard media storage type from cartridges to compact discs in consoles. Doom (1993) bursts onto the world scene and instantly popularizes the FPS genre, and even how games are played, as Doom is among the first games to feature multiplayer capabilities. It is not until Quake (1996), however, that game developers begin to take multiplayer features into serious consideration when making games. Half-Life (1998) features the next evolutionary step in the genre with continual progression of the game (no levels in the traditional sense) and an entirely in-person view, and becomes one of the most popular computer games in history. The real-time strategy (RTS) genre is introduced in 1992 with the release of Dune II. Warcraft: Orcs & Humans (1994) popularizes the genre, with Command & Conquer and Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness in 1995 sets up the first major real-time strategy competition and popularizes multiplayer capabilities in RTS games. StarCraft in 1998 becomes the second best-selling computer game of all time. It remains among the most popular multiplayer RTS games to this day, especially in South Korea. Homeworld in 1999 becomes the first successful 3d RTS game. The rise of the RTS genre is often credited with the fall of the turn-based strategy (TBS) genre, popularized with Civilization in 1991. The Civilization franchise is the only TBS franchise that remains popular. Final Fantasy first debuted (in North America) in 1990 for the NES, and remains among the most popular video game franchises, with 11 total sequels to date, with another in development, plus numerous spin-offs and related titles. Final Fantasy VII, released in 1997, especially popularized the series. Zelda continues its massive popularity with a series of groundbreaking games, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, released in 1998, which is considered one of the best and most groundbreaking games of all time. Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing games (MMORPGs) see their entrance into the computer game world with Ultima Online in 1997, although they don't gain widespread popularity until EverQuest and Asheron's Call in 1999. MMORPGs go on to become among the most popular genres in the 2000s. Pokémon entered the world scene with the release of the original Game Boy Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green games in Japan in 1996, later changed to Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue for worldwide release in 1998. It soon becomes popular in the U.S. and is adapted into a popular children's anime series and trading card game, among other media forms. Its popularity remains well into the 2000s. This article is about process of creating 3D computer graphics. ... This article is about video games. ... Lara Croft is a fictional British video game character and the heroine of the Tomb Raider series of video games, movies, and comic books. ... Console wars is a term used to refer to periods of intense competition for market share between video game console manufacturers. ... This article is about the video game company. ... The Sega Mega Drive ) is a video game console released by Sega in Japan in 1988, North America in 1989, and the PAL region in 1990. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... For the video game system, see Nintendo Entertainment System. ... The European SNES design is identical to the Super Famicom. ... This article is about the year. ... Sony Corporation ) is a Japanese multinational corporation and one of the worlds largest media conglomerates with revenue of $66. ... For other uses, see PlayStation (disambiguation). ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... The Sega Saturn ) is a 32-bit video game console, first released on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America and July 8, 1995 in Europe. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... The Dreamcast , code-named Dural, Dricas and Katana during development) is Segas fifth and final video game console and the successor to the Sega Saturn. ... This article is about the year. ... Mario ) is a video game character created by Japanese game designer Shigeru Miyamoto and the official mascot of Nintendo. ... This article is about the character. ... Sonic the Hedgehog is the platform game that launched the career of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Team. ... Centipede by Atari is a typical example of a 1980s era arcade game. ... For the original NASA meaning, see capsule communicator. ... Street Fighter II ) is a 1991 competitive fighting game by Capcom. ... This article is about the video game company. ... Virtua Fighter is a 1993 fighting game developed by the Sega studio AM2, headed by Yu Suzuki. ... Mortal Kombat was the first entry in the famous and highly controversial Mortal Kombat fighting game series by Midway, released in arcades in 1992. ... Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. ... For other uses, see PlayStation (disambiguation). ... Cartridge for the VIC 20 homecomputer In various types of electronic equipment, a cartridge can refer one method of adding different functionality or content (e. ... CD redirects here. ... Doom (or DOOM)[1] is a 1993 computer game by id Software that is a landmark title in the first-person shooter genre. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about video games. ... This article is about the original video game. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Half-Life For a quantity subject to exponential decay, the half-life is the time required for the quantity to fall to half of its initial value. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... A real-time strategy (RTS) video game is a strategic game that is distinctly not turn-based. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty (retitled Dune II: Battle for Arrakis in Europe and for the Mega Drive/Genesis port) is a Dune computer game, released in 1992 by Westwood Studios. ... The original box art for Warcraft: Orcs & Humans. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Command & Conquer is the original title in Westwood Studios Command & Conquer franchise of real-time strategy video games. ... Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness (usually simply called Warcraft II; sometimes abbreviated to WCII or WC2) is a sequel to the popular real-time strategy game Warcraft, published by Blizzard Entertainment in December 1995. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... “Starcraft” redirects here. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the computer game named Homeworld. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... A turn-based strategy (TBS) game is a game where the game flow is partitioned into well-defined and visible parts, called turns or rounds. ... For the complete series of games, see Civilization (series). ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the Final Fantasy franchise. ... Final Fantasy VII ) is a console role-playing game developed and published by Square, and the seventh installment in the Final Fantasy series. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... The Legend of Zelda ) is a high fantasy action-adventure video game series created by game designer Shigeru Miyamoto and developed and published by Nintendo. ... The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was a video game released in 1998, and the first Zelda game for the Nintendo 64. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... An image from World of Warcraft, one of the largest commercial MMORPGs as of 2004, based on active subscriptions. ... Ultima Online (UO) is a popular graphical massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), released on September 25, 1997, by Origin Systems. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... EverQuest (or colloquially, EQ) is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that was released on March 16, 1999. ... Asherons Call (AC) is a fantasy MMORPG for Microsoft Windows-based PCs, released on November 2, 1999. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... The official Pokémon logo. ... For the entire Game Boy series of handheld consoles, see Game Boy line. ... Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue were the first Pokémon games released for the Game Boy in the United States. ... Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green were the first Pokémon games released for the Game Boy in Japan. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue were the first Pokémon games released for the Game Boy in the United States. ... Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue were the first Pokémon games released for the Game Boy in the United States. ... Animé redirects here. ... Various trading cards A trading card (or collectible card) is a small card which is intended for trading and collecting. ... [edit] Popular video games of the 1990s 1990 Super Mario Bros. 3 Final Fantasy Wing Commander Commander Keen The Secret of Monkey Island 1991 Super Mario Bros. ... Final Fantasy ) is a console role-playing game developed and published in Japan by Square (now Square Enix) in 1987 and published in North America by Nintendo of America in 1990, and is the inaugural game in Squares flagship Final Fantasy series. ... Wing Commander (often referred to as Wing Commander I or WC1) is the first, eponymous game in Chris Roberts science fiction space simulation franchise. ... Yorp redirects here. ... The Secret of Monkey Island (SMI) is a well known adventure game that spawned a series of famous and classic comedy adventure games, known as the Monkey Island series as well as making a name for LucasArts (then Lucasfilm Games) as a producer of adventure games, thus the largest competitor... Civilization Sonic the Hedgehog Street Fighter II Super Mario World Final Fantasy IV/II Duke Nukem Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge 1992 For the complete series of games, see Civilization (series). ... Sonic the Hedgehog is the platform game that launched the career of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Team. ... Street Fighter II ) is a 1991 competitive fighting game by Capcom. ... Super Mario World , commonly abbreviated SMW) is a platform game developed and published by Nintendo Co. ... Final Fantasy IV ) is a console role-playing game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) in 1991 as a part of the Final Fantasy video game series. ... Duke Nukem is a platform video game developed and published by Apogee Software (now 3D Realms), featuring the adventures of Duke Nukem. ... Mortal Kombat Dune II Ultima VII: The Black Gate Virtua Racing The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Kirby's Dream Land Wolfenstein 3D Super Mario Kart Sonic the Hedgehog 2 1993 Mortal Kombat was the first entry in the famous Mortal Kombat fighting game series by Midway, released in arcades in 1992. ... Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty (retitled Dune II: Battle for Arrakis in Europe and for the Mega Drive/Genesis port) is a Dune computer game, released in 1992 by Westwood Studios. ... The Avatar enters Britannia Ultima VII is the seventh of the Ultima series of computer role-playing games. ... Virtua Formula 8-machine plus commentator setup at the extinct Sega Virtualand, inside the Luxor Casino, Las Vegas, USA, in 1993. ... The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, released in Japan on November 21, 1991, as ゼルダの伝説 神々のトライフォース (Zeruda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Toraifōsu, literally The Legend of Zelda: Triforce of the Gods), and in North America and Europe in 1992, was the only game in the Zelda series... Kirbys Dream Land, known in Japan as Hoshi no Kirby , lit. ... Wolfenstein 3D (commonly abbreviated to Wolf 3D) is the computer game that started the first person shooter genre on the PC. It was created by id Software and published by Apogee Software on May 5, 1992. ... Super Mario Kart is the first video game in the Mario Kart series, released in 1992 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. ... Sonic the Hedgehog 2, or simply Sonic 2, is a platform game developed by American studio Sega Technical Institute in collaboration with Sonic Team, and published by Sega for the Mega Drive/Genesis. ... Star Wars: X-Wing Virtua Fighter Star Fox Kirby's Adventure The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening