Here are some of the key events that took place in 1990:

• The reunification of East and West Germany took place on October 3, 1990.
• The first Gulf War began on August 2, 1990, when Iraq invaded Kuwait. A coalition of countries, led by the United States, fought against Iraq and liberated Kuwait by February 28, 1991.
• Nelson Mandela was released from prison in South Africa on February 11, 1990 after serving 27 years. He went on to become the country's first black president in 1994.
• The World Wide Web was created by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist.
• East Germany held its first and only free elections on March 18, 1990.
• The Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit on April 24, 1990.