OT millennium question

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long-time lurker, sometime poster here, used forum for info often, now I need your input. . . Opponent says new millennium doesn't begin 'til 1-1-2001. I say the 60's ran from 1960 through 1969, the "1800's" means 1800-1899 so it's obvious the new millennium begins 1-1-2000. I know there is no zero on the time-line, but why would we begin counting the Christian era *after* the little hash-mark labeled 1 AD? I think the BC era ended at the little mark on the time-line labeled 1 BC, after 365 days we hit the 1 AD mark. Why was year zero omitted anyway? Because the birth of Christ couldn't be considered a zero? (I ask that in all seriousness.) I think year zero was omitted because unlike a number line where you can approach -1 from zero in a negative direction, on the time-line you can only appproach 1BC from 2BC, you cannot regress in time. Bear with me, if you think this sounds idiotic, you should hear the discussion. Starting decades, centuries and millennia with a zero just makes more sense to me. Starting a new millenium with a "1" reminds me of starting a race with one second already on the clock. And if we feel like we're still in the old millennium in year 2000, then we're still in the old century, and still in the old decade--"it's year 2000 and we're still in the 1990's". Doesn't make sense. Anyway, all responses appreciated. thanks all oh, yeah how may days were removed from the calendar in 1528 (?) how may days removed in 1700's? thanks again

-- amnesia (Idon@know.com), January 14, 2000

Answers

"Years of the Gregorian calendar, which is currently in use today, are counted from AD 1. Thus, the 1st century comprised the years AD 1 through AD 100. The second century began with AD 101 and continued through AD 200. By extrapolation we find that the 20th century comprises the years AD 1901-2000. Therefore, the 21st century will begin with 1 January 2001 and continue through 31 December 2100."

-- Etta James (ej@umkc.edu), January 14, 2000.

There is 100 years to a century. You begin your count with 1. Zero = Zero.

The new millenium begins in 2001.

-- Ishkabibble (ishman@home.com), January 14, 2000.


Does millennium have one n or two? I've seen it both ways.

It was a spelling word for my second grader this week and only had one n but several other places I looked had two.

Just wondering....

-- Johnny (jljtm@bellsouth.net), January 14, 2000.


amnesia,

opponent ios right.

Johnny,

millennium, not millenium, millennial, not millenial

-- (4@5.6), January 14, 2000.


Arthur C. Clarke says the new millennium start in 2001

BTW Christ was born in year 1AD

-- hzlz (mph@netbox.org), January 14, 2000.



Start counting anything - dollars, years, matchsticks, it doesn't matter. Do you start at Zero or One? Count from 1 to 1000. Your first thousand ends at 1000 not 999. Right?

Count your second thousand. Does it start at 1000 or 1001? 1001. Where does it end? 2000. Not 1999 or 2001.

Now begin your third thousand (or Millennium). It starts at 2001. Not 2000.

-- Powder (Powder47keg@aol.com), January 14, 2000.


Yeah, Powder, I heard that on Limbaugh, too. Best analogy on how to count years I've heard yet.

-- Dave Lister (dl@reddwarf.org), January 14, 2000.

Ok, I give. We're still in the second millennuim, still in the 20th century, and still in the 1990's. Thank you, all.

-- amnesia (Idon@know.com), January 14, 2000.

BTW---1801 to 1900 is the 1800s because it finished the sequence leading up to 1900,it is also called the 19th century.

-- just a thought (tigerpm@netscape.com), January 14, 2000.

The eighteen hundreds include the years 1800 through 1899.

The nineteenth centruy includes the years 1801 through 1900.

The nineteen hundreds include the years 1900 through 1999.

The twentieth century includes the years 1901 through 2000.

The twenty-first century includes the years 2001 through 2100.

George

-- George Valentine (georgevalentine@usa.net), January 14, 2000.



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