• US President Richard Nixon stuns the world by opening relations with the previously shunned People's Republic of China, visiting mainland China and meeting with Mao Zedong.
• In the Munich Massacre, eleven Israeli athletes are slaughtered when members of the Arab terrorist group "Black September" invade the Olympic village at the Munich Games. Five terrorists and one policeman are later killed during a hostage rescue attempt.
• The 1972 Miami Dolphins complete American footballs first and only perfect season, going 17-0 by winning every regular season game, two playoff games, and Super Bowl VII over the Washington Redskins, 14-7.

These people were born in 1972:

• Japanese pop superstar Kimura Takuya.
• Hip-hop artist Christopher Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G..
• American actress Denise Richards.

These people died in 1972:

• Former American president Harry S. Truman.
• American baseball legend Jackie Robinson.
• Dutch artist M. C. Escher.
• American poet Ezra Pound.
• Arthur Bennett, the last living speaker of the Mbabaram language.
• American baseball great Gil Hodges.

1971 - 1972 - 1973

20th century

This is a collaboratively edited writeup. You are encouraged to assimilate and supersede it.