Decades Timeline Project by Sabina Massa

1999-2008: Civil War in Congo and Angola

smassa28 — 2025-06-12 13:07:33 UTC

After Kabila became president, he promised democracy and free elections by 1999. When those promises were never fulfilled, the nation endured another round of civil war in 2000. 3 different rebel groups wanted to overthrow Kabila's Autocratic rule. In 2001, he was assassinated by a bodyguard. After his son Joseph Kabila took over, he began seeking peace. In 2002, the country’s government signed peace deals with neighboring countries and different rebel groups. In 2006, Kabila was elected president under a new constitutional rule. In 2008, the government and 20 rebel groups signed a peace agreement to end the fighting in the Eastern part of the nation. (Module 30)

2001: 9/11

smassa28 — 2025-06-12 13:08:27 UTC

On the morning of September 11, 2001 The Arab terrorist group Al-Qaeda hijacked 4 U.S planes and crashed into the twin towers. Another plane hit the Pentagon outside of Washington D.C while the fourth plane hit an empty field in Pennsylvania. The strikes in NYC caused mass destruction causing explosions and fires that caused great damage to skyscrapers near the twin towers. The fire and debris caused nearby buildings to collapse as well. This event killed nearly 3,000 people, all passengers on the planes died along with many of the people working and visiting the world trade center and the pentagon. 340 NYC firefighters and 60 police officers died as well. Americans changed the way they viewed terrorism and began feeling vulnerable and afraid that these attacks can happen again. (Module 32.pdf)

2003: The Completion of the Human Genome Project

smassa28 — 2025-06-12 13:09:07 UTC

The Human Genome Project’s 2003 completion of a human gene map advanced the development of molecular medicine a lot. This field focuses on how genetic diseases develop and progress, aiming to identify disease-causing genes for early detection and treatment. Gene therapy, another area of focus, involves using genes to treat diseases by replacing, getting rid of/deactivating, or adding genes. The ultimate goal is to create personalized drugs based on a person's genetic makeup. The Human Genome Project was a major event in the early 2000s because it was the first time scientists had a complete map of all human genes. This was a huge step forward in understanding how the human body works at the genetic level. It opened up new possibilities for diagnosing, treating, and even preventing diseases based on a person’s DNA. The project also led to major advances in technology and research, changing the future of medicine and biology. (Module 32.pdf)

2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

smassa28 — 2025-06-12 13:32:16 UTC

This movie presents the final confrontation between the forces of good and evil fighting for control of the future middle earth. This movie was the most popular out of the 3 trilogy lord of the rings movies. It grossed over 1.1 billion USD worldwide, becoming the highest grossing movie of 2003. This movie also won a record-breaking 11 oscars.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167260/

2006: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

smassa28 — 2025-06-12 13:35:17 UTC

Captain Jack Sparrow must find the "Dead Man's Chest" to escape a blood debt to Davy Jones, a ghostly pirate captain. Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann are arrested for helping Jack escape. Lord Cutler Beckett offers them a deal to retrieve Jack's compass and control Jones. This movie was the biggest international release of 2006. It had the largest opening weekend gross in North America, breaking multiple records.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383574/plotsummary/

2009: Avatar

smassa28 — 2025-06-12 13:39:38 UTC

Avatar is an epic SciFi Movie. The movie takes place in 2154, after humans deplete Earth's resources and mine unobtanium on Pandora. Jake Sully, a paraplegic, takes over his twin brother's role in the Avatar program, betrays humans, fights alongside Na'vi, and permanently transfers. Avatar became the highest grossing film globally breaking multiple records in the box office.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/plotsummary/

2000: Radiohead, ‘Kid A’

smassa28 — 2025-06-12 14:11:42 UTC

Kid A is Radiohead's fourth album, featuring a unique blend of electronics. Kids A was produced by Nigel Godrich, featuring Yorke, guitarist Ed O'Brien, drummer Phil Selway, bassist Colin Greenwood, and guitarist Jonny Greenwood. The result of this album was the weirdest hit album of the year. It was also Radiohead's best album of the decade because of the way it rebuilt rock with a new set of basics and a bleak, yet potent, humanity.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-best-albums-of-the-2000s-153375/bob-dylan-love-and-theft-2-156777/

2001: Jay-Z, ‘The Blueprint’

smassa28 — 2025-06-12 14:12:58 UTC

'The Blueprint' is Jay-Z's best record and one of the best rap albums of all time. ‘The Blueprint’ features catchy tracks by producers Just Blaze, Timbaland, and Kanye West. It was recorded during Jay-Z's feud with Nas. The album mainly showcases his musicality and great skill. He became a vocal stylist that could compete with some of the greatest singers in pop. 'The Blueprint' was released during the September 11 attacks, but sold over 427,000 copies in its opening week. It remained at number one in the U.S for three weeks.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-best-albums-of-the-2000s-153375/bob-dylan-love-and-theft-2-156777/

2004: Kanye West, ‘The College Dropout’

smassa28 — 2025-06-12 14:14:44 UTC

‘The College Dropout’ was Kanye West's debut album. It showcased his love for music and his determination to incorporate it into hip-hop grooves. He expanded the musical and emotional language of hip-hop by incorporating R&B style productions like "Jesus Walks" and "Slow Jamz." Kanye West crossed boundaries and made bold moves in every track, making his album very successful. He sold over 4 million copies by 2014.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-best-albums-of-the-2000s-153375/bob-dylan-love-and-theft-2-156777/

2001-2006: Low Rise Jeans

smassa28 — 2025-06-12 14:20:05 UTC

Low rise jeans became really popular in the early 2000s. They were worn by celebrities like Paris Hilton, Destiny’s Child, Britney Spears, and so many others. They were typically worn right at the hip. There were many different styles such as bootleg, flared and many more. They were typically styled with a crop top and a statement belt, extenuating the low rise and mid section.

https://www.nylon.com/fashion/2000s-celebrities-low-rise-jeans

2003-2006: Velour Tracksuits

smassa28 — 2025-06-12 14:26:07 UTC

Velour tracksuits were an iconic garment influenced by Juicy Couture and Paris hilton. These jumpsuits were the perfect mix of comfort and glamour. The popularity of these velvet tracksuits skyrocketed because of multiple social factors like celebrity culture, fashion trends, and lifestyle choices. The soft, plushable fabric made it a must-have for every girl.

https://www.zamirazenil.com/posts/the-2000s-a-decade-defined-by-velour-tracksuits-and-celebrities

2003-2004: UGGs

smassa28 — 2025-06-12 14:29:26 UTC

Uggs became very popular in the 2000s, symbolizing a mix of comfort and luxury. They came in every style and color, making it a must-have item for everyone. Uggs were continuously worn by many famous pop stars and artists, making more and more people influenced to buy them. Ugg boots were practical and cute, making the popularity of them grow, especially in the winters.

https://www.vogue.com/article/fashion-runway-ugg-boots

2000: Tiger Woods

smassa28 — 2025-06-12 14:39:37 UTC

In the early 2000s, Tiger Woods achieved 9 PGA tour wins. These wins include the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship. He became the youngest golfer to win all 4 major championships. He also broke the record for the lowest scoring average on the PGA tour. Additionally, in 2000, he set 27 records on the PGA tour.

https://www.nbcsports.com/golf/news/tiger-woods-in-2000-event-results-record-and-earnings-on-the-pga-tour

2008: Usain Bolt

smassa28 — 2025-06-12 14:40:56 UTC

On May 3rd, 2008 at the Beijing Olympics, Bolt set a new world record in the 100m. Additionally, he became the first man since Carl Lewis to win the 100m, 2000m and 4X100m relay in just one Olympic. A year later at the world championship in Berlin, he broke his 100 meter record, winning the event. 4 days after that, he broke his own record in the 200m to win a second gold medal.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Usain-Bolt

2000-2009: New York Yankees' Dynasty in Baseball

smassa28 — 2025-06-12 14:43:58 UTC

The New York Yankees won 3 World series in the early 2000s. One in 2000, another in 2003 and the last one in 2009. The win in 2009 was their 5th World series win. “The core Four” — Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, and Mariano Rivera contributed to the team's success tremendously.

https://discover.hubpages.com/sports/Why-the-late-1990s-and-early-2000s-New-York-Yankees-where-the-Greatest-Dynasty-in-MLB-History

2001: Launch of Wikipedia

smassa28 — 2025-06-12 21:59:51 UTC

Wikipedia was launched by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger in 2001 as a free, online encyclopedia that anyone could edit. It quickly grew into one of the largest and most used reference websites in the world. The platform made information more accessible to people everywhere. It started a major shift toward collaborative information sharing on the internet.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Wikipedia

2004: Launch of Facebook

smassa28 — 2025-06-13 02:49:20 UTC

Facebook was launched by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004 and quickly became one of the most popular social media platforms. It allowed people to connect, share photos, and stay updated with friends and family. Over time, it expanded to include businesses, news, and entertainment. Facebook changed how people communicate and interact online.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/february-4/facebook-launches-mark-zuckerberg

2007: Introduction of the iPhone

smassa28 — 2025-06-13 02:54:09 UTC

Apple released the first iPhone in 2007, combining a phone, music player, and internet browser into one device. It had a touchscreen and let users download apps, which was new at the time. The iPhone made it easier for people to use the internet, take photos, and stay connected with others. It changed the way people use phones and started the smartphone era.

https://nypost.com/2023/01/09/on-this-day-in-history-jan-9-2007-steve-jobs-introduces-apple-iphone-at-macworld-in-san-francisco/