The 2000s

In the 2000s, television entered the Platinum Age, as storytellers had license to take the medium to new heights. The creative renaissance in television enjoyed groundbreaking shows such as The Sopranos, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Lost, Survivor, American Idol, Glee and The Office.

New technologies — such as Napster — emerge onto the scene in the 2000s, disrupting the music industry and forever changing how we listen to music.

President George W. Bush launches a global "war on terror" after al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden orchestrates the 9/11 attacks, which kill 2 ,977 people.

Explore President Bush’s desire to end insurgency in Iraq while seeking re-election. In his second term, he must respond to Hurricane Katrina, a burgeoning financial meltdown and his own plummeting poll numbers.

In 2009, Barack Obama becomes US president — the first African-American to hold the position — defeating longtime Sen. John McCain in a historic campaign.

The financial crisis of the late 2000s threatened the global economy. Here's how it began — and how many Americans' lives were affected.

Today, products from tech companies such as Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google are used in our everyday lives. Here's how the tech boom originated.