The following is a timeline of events–perhaps related; perhaps not.
1905: The Gods of Pegāna by Lord Dunsany is published.
1912: Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs is published.
1914: Outbreak of World War I
First members of the Greatest Generation born.
1917: Russian Revolution
1920: 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution passed.
1922: Soviet Union founded.
1932: Conan the Cimmerian created by Robert E. Howard.
1935: First members of the Silent Generation born.
1937: First publication of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit.
Donald A. Wolheim delivers John B. Michel’s speech “Mutation or Death” at
the Third Eastern Science Fiction Convention in Philadelphia.
John W. Campbell Jr. becomes editor of Astounding Science Fiction.
1939: Start of World War II
1944: “The Call of Cthulhu” by H.P. Lovecraft is first published in Weird Tales.
1946: Start of the Baby Boom.
Chinese Communist Revolution
1950: The Korean War begins.
1954: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien begins publication.
1955: The Vietnam War begins.
1956: “Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley released.
1957: First members of Generation Jones born.
1958: “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry released.
1962: “Love Me Do” by the Beatles released.
1964: The Civil Rights Act is passed in the USA.
1968: First members of Generation X born.
1971: Led Zeppelin IV released.
1976: The Atari 2600 released.
1977: The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks is published.
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson published.
Star Wars by George Lucas is released to theaters.
1979: First members of Generation Y born.
1981: Raiders of the Lost Ark by Steven Spielberg, Lawrence Kasdan, and George
Lucas released.
1983: The video game market crashes.
1985: Back to the Future by Robert Zemeckis released.
1986: The Nintendo Entertainment System released nationwide in America.
1987: The Joshua Tree by U2 released.
1989: Release of the Sega Genesis
1990: First members of the Millennial Generation born.
Fall of the Berlin Wall
Gulf War begins.
First book of The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan published.
1991: Launch of the Super NES
Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn published.
1995: SONY PlayStation released.
1997: Final Fantasy VII released for the PlayStation.
Release of Pop by U2.
Star Wars Special Editions first hit theaters.
1999: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace released.
2001: First members of Generation Z born.
9/11
War in Afghanistan begins.
Iraq War begins.
2008: Barack Obama elected.
2014: #GamerGate begins.
2015: Obergfell v. Hodges SCOTUS decision.
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens released.
2016: Space Raptor Butt Invasion by Dr. Chuck Tingle nominated for a
Hugo Award.
Dragon Awards founded.
Election of Donald Trump.
2017: Galaxy’s Edge: Legionnaire released by Jason Anspach and Nick Cole.
UPDATE: My astute and knowledgeable readers offered welcome corrections in the comments.
“The Call of Cthulhu” was first published in 1928.
The Iraq War started in 2003.