During the 1970s progressive values, particularly around women’s rights, became more widespread and in 1979, the UK elected its first female Prime Minister.

The oil crisis saw many industrialised countries experience recession, whilst developing countries made steady progress due the ‘Green Revolution’ - a worldwide boom in agricultural production due to technological advancements.

In the art world of the 1970s, Feminist art, Land art and Performance art rose to prominence. Despite their serious subject matter there was also an underlying sense of irony and impudence typical for artistic creations from this decade.