Twentieth Century

From Srafopedia

Usually referring to the Common Era, or Anno Domini century, the Twentieth Century began on 1st January 1901 and ended on 31st December 2000. However, common usage puts any year starting "19.." into the 20th Century.

The reason 1900 still belongs to the Nineteenth century is that there wasn't a year 0. So the First Century lasted from 1 to 100, the Second Century from 101 to 200, ..., the Twentieth Century from 1901 to 2000.

The Anno Domini, (In the Year of (Our) Lord), or AD, system was devised by a monk named Dionysius Exiguus in Rome in 525. He equates the year AD 525 with the consulate of Probus Junior. Thus he implies that Jesus' Incarnation occurred 525 years earlier, without stating the specific year during which his birth or conception occurred. Scholars now believe that this system actually places the birth of Jesus at some time between 10 and 3 BCE.

The terms Common Era (CE), and Before Common Era (BCE), are preferred by those who do not wish to associate year numbering with any specific religious or cultural context.