🇬🇧United Kingdom · 90s
Good Friday Agreement
Peace came to Northern Ireland, Beckham was sent off, and Viagra arrived.
5 milestones of 1998
After years of negotiation, the Good Friday Agreement was signed. It created a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland, decommissioned weapons, and released prisoners. Tony Blair, Bertie Ahern, John Hume and David Trimble made peace possible.
Peace process — celebrate while acknowledging ongoing challenges and victims
The Real IRA detonated a car bomb in Omagh, County Tyrone, killing 29 people and unborn twins. It was the deadliest single bombing of the entire Troubles. The attack was universally condemned and strengthened support for peace.
Mass civilian death — deepest respect for all 31 victims
David Beckham was sent off against Argentina for kicking Diego Simeone. England lost on penalties. Beckham was vilified. Effigies were burned. He would have to rebuild his reputation from the ashes.
Labour's Human Rights Act incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. For the first time, British courts could enforce human rights directly. It remains one of Blair's most significant reforms.
Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded Google. Within a few years, 'to Google' would become a verb. The way Britain found information was about to change forever.
70% local · 30% international
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Guy Ritchie — Cockney gangsters. Vinnie Jones. British crime comedy reinvented.
Saving Private Ryan
Steven Spielberg — D-Day's horror. Tom Hanks. Changed war films forever.
Shakespeare in Love
John Madden — Gwyneth Paltrow in doublet and hose. 7 Oscars.
Sliding Doors
Peter Howitt — Gwyneth Paltrow in London. Two timelines. What if?
Elizabeth
Shekhar Kapur — Cate Blanchett as the Virgin Queen. Gorgeous British epic.
World Cup 1998
Jun-Jul 1998 — Michael Owen's wonder goal. Beckham's red card. Penalties. Despair.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
1998-present — Chris Tarrant. 'Phone a friend.' 'Is that your final answer?' Game show revolution.
Goodnight Mister Tom
1998 — John Thaw as a recluse caring for an evacuee. ITV drama that made everyone cry.
Cold Feet
1998-2003 — Manchester thirty-somethings navigating love and life.
Teletubbies
1997-2001 — Eh-oh! Toddler phenomenon continued. Jerry Springer clip incident.
Currency: GBP
Inflation: 3.4%
Economy booming. New Labour spending. House prices rising. The good times rolling — for now.
Inflation-adjusted values
Founded in September — would become the world's front page.
iMac
Apple's colourful iMac made computers desirable objects.
Windows 98
Microsoft's latest OS — internet integration built in.
MP3 players
Early MP3 players appearing — digital music distribution coming.
Viagra
Launched in the UK — pharmaceutical cultural phenomenon.
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