Keep the Tale

Explore by year

1963 CE

This year falls in the Twentieth century (1901–2000). Two world wars, the Russian and Chinese revolutions, the Cold War and the end of most colonial empires fall in this century. It also brings mass air travel, nuclear weapons, antibiotics and computers.

← 1962 CE1964 CE →

Dated to 1963 CE

Country · KenyaKenya1963–Kenya is an East African country on the Indian Ocean, famous for its wildlife and athletes. It became independent from Britain in 1963 after the Mau Mau uprising. It is a presidential republic.
Country · MalaysiaMalaysia1963–Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country split between the Malay Peninsula and Borneo. The Federation of Malaysia formed in 1963. It is a federal constitutional monarchy whose king is chosen by rotation among nine sultans.

Within fifteen years

Country · AlgeriaAlgeria1962–Algeria is the largest country in Africa, stretching from the Mediterranean deep into the Sahara. It won independence from France in 1962 after an eight year war. It is a semi presidential republic rich in oil and gas.
Country · BurundiBurundi1962–Burundi is a small, densely populated country in central Africa. It became independent from Belgium in 1962. Ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi has scarred its history, including a civil war from 1993 to 2005.
Country · JamaicaJamaica1962–Jamaica is a Caribbean island country, the birthplace of reggae and the Rastafari movement. Britain ruled it for three centuries until independence in 1962. It is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.
Country · MalawiMalawi1964–Malawi is a landlocked country in southeastern Africa, named for Lake Malawi. It became independent from Britain in 1964. Hastings Banda ruled as a dictator for three decades; it is now a presidential republic.
Country · MaltaMalta1964–Malta is a small island country in the central Mediterranean. Its position made it one of the most fought over islands in history. It became independent from Britain in 1964 and a republic in 1974.
Country · RwandaRwanda1962–Rwanda is a small, densely populated country in central Africa. It became independent from Belgium in 1962. The 1994 genocide killed about 800,000 people; since then Paul Kagame has rebuilt it as a tightly controlled state.
Country · SamoaSamoa1962–Samoa is a Polynesian country in the South Pacific. Germany and then New Zealand ruled it before independence in 1962, the first Pacific island state freed. It is a parliamentary republic.
Country · TanzaniaTanzania1964–Tanzania is an East African country home to Mount Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti. Tanganyika and Zanzibar united in 1964. Julius Nyerere built a peaceful single party state; it is now a presidential republic.
Country · Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago1962–Trinidad and Tobago is a twin island country off Venezuela, birthplace of calypso and the steel drum. It became independent from Britain in 1962. It is a parliamentary republic rich in oil and gas.
Country · UgandaUganda1962–Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa on Lake Victoria. It became independent from Britain in 1962. Idi Amin's terror in the 1970s killed hundreds of thousands; Yoweri Museveni has ruled since 1986.
Country · ZambiaZambia1964–Zambia is a landlocked country in southern Africa, rich in copper. It became independent from Britain in 1964. Kenneth Kaunda ruled for twenty seven years; it is now a presidential republic.
Event · Twentieth century · GermanyBerlin Wall1961–1989Barrier sealing West Berlin from East Germany, built 13 August 1961, opened 9 November 1989. Built to stop emigration; shoot-to-kill orders governed escape attempts.
Country · GambiaGambia1965–The Gambia is a tiny country wrapped around the Gambia River, surrounded by Senegal. It became independent from Britain in 1965. It is a presidential republic.
Country · KuwaitKuwait1961–Kuwait is a small oil rich emirate at the head of the Persian Gulf. It became independent from Britain in 1961. Iraq invaded and occupied it in 1990 until a United States led coalition freed it in 1991.
Country · MaldivesMaldives1965–The Maldives is an archipelago of about twelve hundred coral islands in the Indian Ocean. It became independent from Britain in 1965. It is a presidential republic and a luxury tourist destination threatened by rising seas.
Country · Sierra LeoneSierra Leone1961–Sierra Leone is a West African country on the Atlantic. Britain founded Freetown for freed slaves, and the colony became independent in 1961. A brutal civil war over diamonds lasted from 1991 to 2002.
Country · SingaporeSingapore1965–Singapore is a city state at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, one of the world's great ports. It was expelled from Malaysia in 1965 and became independent alone. Under Lee Kuan Yew it grew into one of the richest countries on earth.
Country · BarbadosBarbados1966–Barbados is a small island country in the Caribbean. It was a British sugar colony for three centuries until independence in 1966. In 2021 it removed the British monarch and became a parliamentary republic.
Country · BeninBenin1960–Benin is a West African country on the Gulf of Guinea. Its coast was once called the Slave Coast. It became independent from France in 1960 and is now a presidential republic.
Country · BotswanaBotswana1966–Botswana is a landlocked country in southern Africa, mostly covered by the Kalahari Desert. It became independent from Britain in 1966. It is a parliamentary republic and one of Africa's most stable democracies.
Country · Burkina FasoBurkina Faso1960–Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa. It became independent from France in 1960 as Upper Volta and took its current name in 1984. It is a military led state after coups in 2022.
Country · CameroonCameroon1960–Cameroon is a Central African country on the Gulf of Guinea, often called Africa in miniature for its diversity. France and Britain divided it after the First World War; the French part became independent in 1960. It is a presidential republic.
Country · Central African RepublicCentral African Republic1960–The Central African Republic is a landlocked country in the heart of Africa. It became independent from France in 1960. It is one of the poorest countries in the world and has suffered repeated coups and civil wars.
Country · ChadChad1960–Chad is a large, landlocked country in north central Africa, named for Lake Chad. It became independent from France in 1960. It is a military led state after the death of President Déby in 2021.