The New Millennium

The 21^st century and the 3^rd millennium began on January 1^st, 2001, not January 1^st, 2000. A simple calculation can show this. The first century began on January 1, 1 A.D. (there was no year 0; the early medieval scholars who created the system of years didn't have an adequate concept of zero), and the 100 years comprising that century ended on December 31, 100 A.D. The second century began on January 1, 101 A.D. The 20^th century began on January 1, 1901 and therefore ended on December 31^st, 2000. Therefore, the new century and millennium began January 1^st, 2001.

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