The major event that influenced Nelson Mandela's early life was the racial segregation enforced by the Apartheid regime in South Africa. Growing up in a society marked by discrimination, he became acutely aware of the injustices faced by his people. His experiences at a young age instilled a sense of justice and a desire to challenge the status quo. This formative background ultimately shaped Mandela's lifelong commitment to the fight for equality and his leadership in the struggle against the oppressive regime that marginalized black South Africans.