1975:
- Fall of Saigon: The Vietnam War ends as North Vietnamese troops capture Saigon, leading to the reunification of Vietnam under Communist rule.
- Death of Francisco Franco: The long-time dictator of Spain, Francisco Franco, dies, marking the beginning of a transition towards democracy in the country.
- Helsinki Accords: The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) concludes with the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, which aims to improve relations between Eastern and Western Europe.
1976:
- Apple I: Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak unveil the Apple I, considered the first personal computer sold completely assembled.
- Tangshan Earthquake: A devastating earthquake hits Tangshan, China, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.
- Jimmy Carter becomes President: Jimmy Carter is elected as the 39th President of the United States, defeating incumbent Gerald Ford.
1977:
- Egyptian–Israeli Peace Treaty: Egypt and Israel sign a historic peace treaty, brokered by U.S. President Jimmy Carter, which ends the state of war between the two countries.
- Disco Era: The disco music and dance craze reach their peak, with hits such as "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees becoming worldwide anthems.
- Voyager Probes: NASA launches the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft, which embark on a journey to explore the outer planets of the Solar System and interstellar space.
1978:
- Jonestown Massacre: Over 900 members of the Peoples Temple, led by Jim Jones, commit mass suicide or are murdered in a remote commune in Guyana.
- Iranian Revolution: Mass protests lead to the overthrow of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
- Camp David Accords: U.S. President Jimmy Carter mediates peace talks between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, resulting in the signing of the Camp David Accords.
1979:
- Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan: The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan, triggering a decade-long conflict and leading to international condemnation and boycotts of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.
- Three Mile Island Accident: A partial meltdown occurs at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, raising concerns about the safety of nuclear energy.
- Margaret Thatcher becomes Prime Minister: Margaret Thatcher wins the general election in the United Kingdom, becoming the first woman to hold the position of Prime Minister.