What is the Difference Between a Decade, a Century and a Millennium?

The terms “century,” “millennium” and “decade” are all used to describe blocks of time, but each has its own specific meaning. Understanding the subtle nuances between these concepts is key to understanding historical events as well as upcoming trends. Colloquially, the term “century” can be used to refer to any period of 100 years. However, in a historical context it refers specifically to the period between and including 1901 and 2000. A century is also typically subdivided based on which century it falls into: the 20th century or the 21st century. Similarly, the term “millennium” is commonly used to refer to any period of 1,000 years. But in a historical context it refers specifically to either the period between and including AD 1000 and 1999 or alternatively the extended period from AD 200 onward until AD 2000 (depending on whether you consider AD 1 to be part of the first millennium or not). The word “decade” means “a category of ten”; hence, we have “the 1790s” (the final decade of the 18th century) or “the 2010s” (a decade that has not yet finished).

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The Millennial Decade

The millennial decade refers to the period between the year 2000 and the year 2010. This decade is notable in that it contains the very first decade of the new millennium (hence the name). It is also remarkable in that it saw an unusually high number of famous people pass away. This included a large number of pop icons, political leaders and a former pope. These include Michael Jackson, George W Bush, Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, Osama bin Laden, Pope John Paul II, Fidel Castro, Steve Jobs, Muammar Gaddafi, Michael Hutchence, Robin Williams and Anna Nicole Smith.

The 21st Century

The 21st century began on January 1, 2000 and will end on December 31, 2100. This period of time is significant because it marks the beginning of the third millennium since the start of the Christian Era. It also marks the beginning of a new century after the 20th century (during which two World Wars were fought, the concept of globalization was born, the digital age was ushered in and the world population reached 6 billion). The 21st century also marks the 50th anniversary of the start of the Space Age, which began with the launch of Sputnik 1 by the Soviet Union in 1957. This was followed in October 1957 by the launch of Explorer 1, which marked the beginning of the U.S. Space Program. These events have led some people to believe that this will be the century in which humans will finally make the giant leap to living permanently in outer space.

The Century Before the 21st Century

The century before the 21st century is normally referred to as the 20th century. This, of course, is the “century of two world wars” that began with the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 and ended with the end of the Cold War in 1991. It is also the century in which the Information Age began, globalization was born, the world population exceeded 4 billion and the Internet was created. The century ended with the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the Bush-Blair “War on Terror,” the advent of the widely-used Internet communication device known as the “smartphone,” the Global Financial Crisis and the Great Recession.

The 19th Century

The 19th century was a pivotal period in world history. It was the century in which a combination of factors – including industrialization and modernization, widespread use of new technologies, a demographic shift away from rural areas and towards cities, and the formation of new political entities such as the United States, Germany and Italy – ushered in a new era of human civilization. The 19th century is also notable for being the century in which great social changes began to occur. These changes included the transformation of societies from agricultural-based to industrial-based, the rise of the middle class, and the advent of the concept of social equality for women. The century also saw the abolition of slavery, women obtaining the right to vote, and the formation of the International Red Cross and the United Nations.

The 20th Century

The 20th century was a century of significant change and progress. It saw the end of the First World War and the beginning of the Second World War, the advent of the automobile and the airplane, the widespread use of electricity, the formation of the concept of nuclear energy, the development of antibiotics, the implementation of the Internet, and the discovery of the DNA molecule. This was also the century that saw the rise and fall of communism and the formation of the Internet. However, it also saw the start of the Great Depression, the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the first ever Space Race, and the start of the worldwide AIDS pandemic.

How Many Years Are There in a Millenium, Century, and Decade?

A millennium is a period of time lasting one thousand years. There are seven millenniums in the official Gregorian calendar, which is most commonly used today. These millenniums include: AD (Anno Domini) or Common Era; The Christian Millennium; The Byzantine Millennium; The First Millennium; The Second Millennium; and the Third Millennium. A century, on the other hand, is a period of 100 years, or ten consecutive decades. There are 19 centuries in the official Gregorian calendar, including the 21st century. Lastly, a decade refers to ten consecutive years. This article will explain in more detail how many years there are in a millenium, century and decade.

Christian Millennium

The Christian millennium is the period of time beginning with the birth of Jesus Christ and ending with the death of the last person who was born in the first century. The Christian millennium started when the western half of the Roman Empire converted to Christianity and ended when the last person who was born during the first century died. It’s believed that the first Christian millennium began in year zero, or AD 1. The first Christian millennium lasted for 1000 years, which means that the second Christian millennium has already started. The last person who was born during the first Christian century died in 1099, which means that the first Christian millennium lasted 989 years. The first Christian millennium is also known as the Iron Age, while the second Christian millennium is referred to as the Brass Age. The Christian millennium is also known as the Medieval Age. The Christian millennium is widely accepted as a distinct era among historians and other scholars.

Byzantine Millennium

The Byzantine millennium is the period of time between the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian in AD 284 and the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The Byzantine millennium overlaps with the Christian millennium by about 50 years, but it is not accepted as a legitimate period by historians. This millennium is discussed in more detail in the next section.

First Millennium

The first millennium is the period of time between the years AD 1 and 1000. This millennium is also known as the Iron Age. The first millennium came to an end with the death of the last person who was born in the first century. The first millennium lasted 989 years, making it the shortest millennium.

Second Millennium

The second millennium is the period of time between the years 1000 and 2000. This millennium is also referred to as the Brass Age. The second millennium came to an end with the death of the last person who was born in the 11th century. The second millennium lasted 1089 years, making it the longest millennium.

Third Millennium

The third millennium is the period of time between the years 2000 and 3000. This millennium is also referred to as the Silicon Age. The third millennium will end when the last person who was born in the 21st century dies. The third millennium will last 1099 years, making it the second shortest millennium.

The 21st century and beyond

The 21st century is the period of time between the years 2000 and 2100. The 21st century will last for 101 years, making it the sixth shortest millennium. The 22nd century will last for 102 years, making it the fifth shortest millennium. The 23rd century will last for 103 years, making it the fourth shortest millennium. The 24th century will last for 104 years, making it the third shortest millennium. The 25th century will last for 105 years, making it the second shortest millennium. The 26th century will last for 106 years, making it the longest millennium. The 27th century will last for 107 years, making it the second longest millennium. The 28th century will last for 108 years, making it the longest millennium.

Century

A century is a period of 100 years, or ten consecutive decades. The first century lasted from the years 1 to 100. The second century lasted from the years 101 to 200. The third century lasted from the years 201 to 300. The fourth century lasted from the years 301 to 400. The fifth century lasted from the years 401 to 500. The sixth century lasted from the years 501 to 600. The seventh century lasted from the years 601 to 700. The eighth century lasted from the years 701 to 800. The ninth century lasted from the years 801 to 900. The tenth century lasted from the years 901 to 1000. The eleventh century lasted from the years 1001 to 1100. The twelfth century lasted from the years 1101 to 1200. The thirteenth century lasted from the years 1201 to 1300. The fourteenth century lasted from the years 1301 to 1400. The fifteenth century lasted from the years 1401 to 1500. The sixteenth century lasted from the years 1501 to 1600. The seventeenth century lasted from the years 1601 to 1700. The eighteenth century lasted from the years 1701 to 1800. The nineteenth century lasted from the years 1801 to 1900. The twentieth century lasted from the years 1901 to 2000.

Decade

A decade refers to ten consecutive years. The first decade lasted from the years 1901 to 1910. The second decade lasted from the years 1911 to 1920. The third decade lasted from the years 1921 to 1930. The fourth decade lasted from the years 1931 to 1940. The fifth decade lasted from the years 1941 to 1950. The sixth decade lasted from the years 1951 to 1960. The seventh decade lasted from the years 1961 to 1970. The eighth decade lasted from the years 1971 to 1980. The ninth decade lasted from the years 1981 to 1990. The tenth decade lasted from the years 1991 to 2000. The eleventh decade lasted from the years 2001 to 2010. The twelfth decade lasted from the years 2011 to 2020. The thirteenth decade will last for 2021 to 2030. The fourteenth decade will last for 2031 to 2040. The fifteenth decade will last for 2041 to 2050. The sixteenth decade will last for 2051 to 2060. The seventeenth decade will last for 2061 to 2070. The eighteenth decade will last for 2071 to 2080. The nineteenth decade will last for 2081 to 2090. The twentieth decade will last for 2091 to 2100.

Final Words

This article explained that a millennium is a period of time lasting one thousand years, a century is a period of 100 years and a decade is a period of ten consecutive years. The first century of the Christian Calendar began with the birth of Jesus Christ and the first millennium ended when the last person who was born in the first century died. The Byzantine millennium is the period of time between the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian in AD 284 and the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The first millennium is known as the Iron Age, while the second millennium is referred to as the Brass Age. The first millennium came to an end with the death of the last person who was born in the first century. The third millennium will end when the last person who was born in the 21st century dies.