1. Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989): The Berlin Wall, which divided East and West Germany, was demolished in 1989, symbolizing the end of the Cold War era.
2. World Wide Web (1989): The concept of the World Wide Web was introduced by British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee in 1989, paving the way for the development of the internet as we know it today.
3. Dissolution of the Soviet Union (1991): The Soviet Union, one of the world's superpowers, dissolved in 1991, leading to the independence of several countries and a significant geopolitical transformation.
4. Nelson Mandela's Release (1990): Nelson Mandela, a prominent anti-apartheid leader in South Africa, was released from prison in 1990 after spending 27 years in captivity. His release marked a crucial step towards the end of apartheid in South Africa.
5. Gulf War (1991): The Gulf War, also known as the First Gulf War, occurred in 1991 as a response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. It involved military operations led by the United States and a coalition of international forces.
6. Rodney King Riots (1992): The Rodney King riots took place in Los Angeles in 1992 following the verdict of four police officers who were acquitted after beating Rodney King, an African-American motorist. This sparked intense civil unrest and drew attention to issues of police brutality and racial tensions in the United States.
7. Cloning of Dolly the Sheep (1996): While not before 1996, it is worth mentioning that the cloning of Dolly the Sheep, the first successful cloning of a mammal from an adult cell, was achieved in 1996 by scientists in Scotland.
These are just a few examples of notable events that happened before 1996. The period leading up to 1996 witnessed substantial changes in politics, technology, and society that continue to shape the world today.