The 1970s became known as the one in which the belief in the icons of the 60s was shaken, which led some manifestations to become more subtle and unruly, as in open-air rock festivals, where alternative life, love and drugs were celebrated. .
In Brazil, for example, many young idealists carried out their political struggle through armed combat, in hiding, to fight the military regime.
Politics in the 70s
Of the political events that marked the time, we should highlight at least three:the Carnation Revolution, in Portugal (25 April 1974); the Independence of the Portuguese colonies in Africa (Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe); and the rise of dictatorial regimes in Spain, Greece and Latin America, which brought political violence as a result of increased repression.
The Soviet Union becomes the most powerful red army in the world and demonstrates great economic prosperity, however, the end of the space and arms races are already an indication of the weakening of the regime.
In that decade, the Vietnam War ended with the defeat of the United States and the country's reunification under the red flag of communism.
Economics in the 70s
Undoubtedly, the oil crisis apart from the economic event of the decade, when in 1973-74, OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) triples the price of a barrel of oil, raising its price by more than 300% per barrel, causing a shortage of fuels on the world market, even pushing the US into recession.
Later, in 1979, a new oil crisis arose, motivated by the rise of Ayatollah Komeini, enemy of the United States.
As for Brazil, it is worth remembering that it did not go unpunished by the crises that followed, as it burned its reserves from the “economic miracle” and, despite becoming the 9th economy in the world, it will collapse during the second oil crisis, with the increase in fuel prices raising the inflation rate of the Country wildly.
Culture and Society in the 70s
At the sociocultural level, this is the "age of individualism ", but, paradoxically, it is the moment when countless NGOs are strengthened by, motivated by the feeling and mentality of solidarity.
Television now begins to reveal scandals and make the daily lives of celebrities evident. It's also the time for clubs and dance music , which accompanies the euphoria of musical experimentalism, especially with the incorporation of instruments, as in Pink Floyd's progressive rock or Led Zeppelin's hard rock, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. As new bands emerge, others end, like the rock band The Beatles.
Still in the musical sphere, the emergence of the "Punk Movement" , who preaches anarchy and was represented by groups like the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Ramones. In Brazil, a new generation appears, with Belchior, Gonzaguinha, Djavan and Ivan Lins, all influenced by the festivals of the previous decade.
In thetechnological plane , informatics marks with advances that popularize PC's, when on November 15, 1971, Intel launches the Intel 4004, the first microprocessor on the planet.
On the other hand, the world becomes even smaller when France launches, in 1973, the first commercial supersonic aircraft, the Concorde. In space explorations, it is worth mentioning the space mission Viking I, which sent a probe to the planet Mars in 1975.
Now, how about getting to know the 50s and 60s?
Also read:
- Years of Lead
- Farc
- Hippie Movement