The year 2000 was supposed to be a symbol of the new millennium. And indeed it was – but not always in the most joyful way. It has gone down in history as a year of great hopes and bitter disappointments. The world has seen the rise of new leaders, technological visions and brutal tragedies. The ups and downs of companies during the dot-com bubble, the political upheavals in the United States and Russia, and the first permanent crew on the International Space Station. Science, politics, sports, tragedies and groundbreaking discoveries – all concentrated in just 12 months. And some of the consequences of these events are still being felt today. Let’s take a step-by-step look back at the key moments that shaped the year with which the 21st century began.