And although the concept of "age" is introduced in history lessons at school, not only children, but also adults often get confused when it is necessary to correctly determine the beginning and end of this time period.
A bit of theory
Under the term "century" in history, it is customary to call a period of time lasting 100 years. To understand how to determine from what year the 21st century began, like any other, you need to know one small nuance of the generally accepted chronology. Everyone knows that the time of origin of all events is chronologically divided into two periods: BC and after. That's just what date is at the turn of these two eras, not everyone knows.
Have you ever heard of year 0? Unlikely, because 1 B. C. e. ended on December 31, and the next day came a new one, 1 year AD. e. That is, 0 years in the generally accepted chronology simply did not exist. Thus, a period of time of one century begins on January 1, 1, and ends, respectively, on December 31, 100. And only the next day, January 1 in the year 101, a new age begins.
Due to the fact that many do not know this seemingly insignificant historical feature, for quite a long timeThere has been confusion over when and in what year the 21st century will begin. Even some TV and radio hosts called for celebrating the new year 2000 in a special way. After all, this is the beginning of a new century and a new millennium!
When the 21st century began
Calculating from what year the 21st century began, given all of the above, is not at all difficult.
So, the first day of the 2nd century was January 1, 101, January 3 - January 1, 201, January 4 - January 1, 301, and so on. Everything is simple. Accordingly, answering in what year the 21st century began, it should be said - in 2001.
When the 21st century ends
Understanding how the chronology of time is kept, one can easily tell not only from what year the 21st century began, but also when it will end.
The end of the century is determined similarly to the beginning: the last day of the 1st century was December 31, 100, December 2-31, 200, December 3-31, 300, and so on. Finding the answer to the question is not so difficult. The last day of the 21st century will be December 31, 2100.
If you want to calculate from what year the new millennium is counted, you should be guided by the same rule. This will avoid mistakes. Thus, the third millennium according to the Gregorian calendar, adopted by the absolute majority of world states, began on January 1, 2001, simultaneously with the beginning of the 21st century.
Where did the general delusion come from
In Russia adopted todaythe chronology was introduced by decree of Peter I. And before that, the account was kept from the creation of the world. And after the adoption of the Christian chronology, instead of 7209, the year 1700 came. People of the past were also afraid of round dates. Together with the new chronology, a decree was issued on a cheerful and solemn meeting of the new year and the new century.
In addition, do not forget that with the adoption of Christian time in Russia, the calendar remained Julian. Because of this, for all historical events before the transition to the Gregorian calendar (1918), two dates are determined: according to the old and according to the new style. And because of the different length of the year adopted in each of the two types of calendars, a difference of several days appeared. And so in 1918, with the introduction of the Gregorian calendar after January 31, February 14 came.
