It was the "oil crisis" that was one major cause of the recession in the United States in the 1970s, since many countries in the Middle East cut prices to manipulate prices. This put a focus on alternative energy sources that continues today.
American Commodore Matthew Perry led his four ships into the harbor at Tokyo Bay, seeking to re-establish for the first time in over 200 years regular trade and discourse between Japan and the western world.
Athens is in the city of Attica in Greece