Understanding how to read and interpret centuries is straightforward once you grasp the fundamental concept: a century is a period of 100 years. The key to accurately identifying a century lies in how the years are grouped.
Century Basics
- A Century Defined: To complete a century, one must complete 100 years. This means the beginning of a century is always the year ending in "01," and the end is the year ending in "00".
- Reference: According to the information provided, the first century of our era ran from the beginning of A.D. 1 to the end of A.D. 100; the second century began with the year A.D. 101. This establishes the pattern for all subsequent centuries.
Key Points to Remember
- The First Century: The first century begins with the year 1 and ends with the year 100.
- Subsequent Centuries: Each subsequent century begins with the year that is one more than the previous century's end and extends for 100 years. For instance, the second century starts in 101 and ends in 200.
- Example: The 21st century began in 2001 and ends in 2100.
How to Determine the Century
- Identify the Years: Look at the range of years you are working with.
- Grouping: Group years into sets of 100, starting from year 1.
- Name the Century: The number of the century will be one more than the value of the hundredth year of the previous century.
Examples
| Century | Years Range |
|---|---|
| 1st | 1 - 100 |
| 2nd | 101 - 200 |
| 15th | 1401 - 1500 |
| 20th | 1901 - 2000 |
| 21st | 2001 - 2100 |
Common Misconception
A common error is thinking a century begins with the year ending in "00". The year ending in "00" is actually the end of a century.
Understanding these basic principles enables anyone to confidently read and interpret any reference to centuries.
