The 1970s was a time of dentente, an easing of Cold War tensions and an historic visit by President Nixon to China. The conflict in the Middle East led to international terrorist incidents and a major oil crisis. Iran erupted in revolution, space probes landed on Mars and the Sex Pistols shocked the establishment. This book describes these and many other world-changing events that occurred during this decade. Part of the series Dates of a Decade, each title looks at the key dates that helped shape history during a particular decade in the 20th century. As well as describing landmark events, the books examine their causes and consequences and include contemporary newspaper reports and eyewitness accounts.