Featured moment
September 11 Attacks
Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon killed nearly 3,000 people and reshaped global politics, security, and culture for a generation.
The world changed forever.
September 11th redefined an era. But the year also brought the iPod, the first Harry Potter film, and the Xbox.
The Cost of Living in 2001
Gallon of Gas
$1.67
Loaf of Bread
$1.01
Gallon of Milk
$2.86
World Population
6.19 billion
Featured moment
Apple Launches the iPod
Steve Jobs unveiled "1,000 songs in your pocket," beginning Apple's transformation from computer company to lifestyle brand.
Featured moment
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Film
The first Harry Potter movie brought Hogwarts to life, launching one of the highest-grossing film franchises in history.
The wider picture
More from 2001
A few more things worth remembering.
Gaming
Xbox Launches
Microsoft entered the console market with the original Xbox, featuring Halo: Combat Evolved as its killer app.
Internet
Wikipedia Launches
Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger launched the free online encyclopedia that would become the world's largest reference work.
Cinema & TV
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Peter Jackson's first LOTR film brought Tolkien's epic to the big screen with stunning visual effects.
Science & Space
Human Genome Project Draft Completed
Scientists published the first draft of the complete human DNA sequence, a landmark in biology.
Technology
Mac OS X Released
Apple launched its Unix-based operating system, replacing the classic Mac OS with a modern foundation.
Gaming
Grand Theft Auto III Released
Rockstar's open-world crime game pioneered the 3D sandbox genre and became one of the most influential games ever made.
Cinema & TV
Shrek Released
DreamWorks' irreverent fairy tale became a massive hit and spawned a franchise that defined animated comedy.
Music
Gorillaz Release Debut Album
Damon Albarn's virtual band blurred the lines between music, animation, and art.
Gaming
GameCube Launches
Nintendo released its compact, disc-based console with Super Smash Bros. Melee becoming a beloved competitive game.
You arrivedin 2001.
The longer view
This was only the opening scene.
Follow the world as it changed around you, from 2001 to today.