A century is a period of 100 years, defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as "the period of 100 years". This can refer to a specific 100-year period, such as the 20th century (1900–1999), or a general period of time, such as the 21st century (2000–2099). The term "century" can also refer to a span of time that is approximately 100 years, such as the 18th century (1700–1799) or the 19th century (1800–1899).
The term "century" can also be used figuratively to describe a long period of time or a particular era. For example, someone might say "that's a century ago" to refer to a time that is far in the past, or "we're living in a new century" to refer to a new era or a new period of time.
The word "century" comes from the Latin "saeculum", which means "a period of 100 years". This word was used by the ancient Romans to measure time, and it has been adopted into many languages, including English.
In addition to its literal meaning, the term "century" can also be used to describe a particular era or cultural period. For example, the Victorian century refers to the period of time during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901), while the Industrial Revolution refers to the period of time when new manufacturing technologies were developed (1760–1840).
The term "century" can also be used to describe a unit of time in other contexts, such as in science and technology. For example, a century of years is a unit of time used in geology to measure the age of rocks and fossils. In computing, a century is a unit of time used to measure the lifetime of a system or application.
In conclusion, a century is a unit of time that is used to measure and describe long periods of time, both literally and figuratively. It can refer to a specific 100-year period, such as the 20th century, or a general period of time, such as the 21st century. The term "century" can also be used to describe a span of time that is approximately 100 years, or to refer to a particular era or cultural period.
Origin
The origin of the term "century" can be traced back to the Latin word "saeculum," which means "a period of 100 years." This Latin word was used by the ancient Romans to describe a period of time that was considered to be a lifetime or a generation. The word "saeculum" was later adopted into Old French as "siecle," and from there it was borrowed into Middle English as "century."
The use of the term "century" to describe a period of 100 years can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who used it to describe a period of time that was considered to be a significant span of time. The term was used to describe a period of time that was long enough to encompass a complete cycle of human life, including birth, growth, maturity, and death.
The term "century" gained wider use in Europe during the Middle Ages, particularly in the 15th and 16th centuries, when historians and scholars began to use it to describe different periods of time in history. The term was used to describe a period of time that was characterized by significant events or cultural shifts, such as the Renaissance or the Enlightenment.
Over time, the term "century" has evolved to become a widely used unit of time that is used to describe long periods of time, both in a literal and a figurative sense. It is commonly used in historical contexts, such as when discussing historical events or cultural movements, as well as in everyday conversation, such as when referring to a particular era or a significant period of time.
Centuries
Sure, here's a list of each century and some of the major events or innovations that took place during that time:
1st century (1-100 AD):
- The Roman Empire was at its peak, with Augustus Caesar ruling from 27 BC to 14 AD.
- Jesus Christ was born and crucified, leading to the spread of Christianity.
- The Roman Empire began to decline, with civil wars and corruption becoming rampant.
2nd century (101-200 AD):
- The Roman Empire continued to decline, with multiple emperors being assassinated or overthrown.
- The Han Dynasty in China began to collapse, leading to a period of political instability.
- The first Christian churches were established, with the apostles spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ.
3rd century (201-300 AD):
- The Roman Empire continued to decline, with barbarian invasions and internal conflicts weakening its power.
- The Chinese Han Dynasty was overthrown by the Three Kingdoms period, which lasted for over a century.
- The first Buddhist missionaries arrived in China, introducing the religion to the region.
4th century (301-400 AD):
- The Roman Empire was divided into two parts, with the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) surviving for another thousand years.
- Christianity became the dominant religion of the Roman Empire, with the Edict of Milan legalizing it in 313 AD.
- The Chinese Jin Dynasty unified China after the Three Kingdoms period, but was eventually overthrown by the Northern Wei Dynasty.
5th century (401-500 AD):
- The western Roman Empire fell to barbarian invasions, marking the end of the Roman Empire.
- The Byzantine Empire continued to thrive, with the capital city of Constantinople becoming a center of culture and learning.
- The Chinese Northern Wei Dynasty was overthrown by the Northern Qi Dynasty, which was then overthrown by the Sui Dynasty.
6th century (501-600 AD):
- The Byzantine Empire continued to thrive, with the reign of Justinian I (527-565 AD) seeing a resurgence of culture and learning.
- The Sui Dynasty unified China, but was overthrown by the Tang Dynasty in 618 AD.
- The Islamic religion was founded by the Prophet Muhammad, leading to the spread of Islam across the Middle East and North Africa.
7th century (601-700 AD):
- The Tang Dynasty in China was a period of significant cultural and economic growth, with the invention of woodblock printing and the development of gunpowder.
- The Islamic Caliphate expanded rapidly, conquering much of the Middle East, North Africa, and Spain.
- The Byzantine Empire continued to decline, with the capital city of Constantinople being besieged by the Arabs.
8th century (701-800 AD):
- The Tang Dynasty continued to thrive, with significant advances in technology, art, and literature.
- The Islamic Caliphate continued to expand, with the Umayyad Caliphate ruling over a vast empire.
- The Byzantine Empire was overthrown by the Iconoclastic Controversy, which banned the use of religious images.
9th century (801-900 AD):
- The Tang Dynasty began to decline, with regional warlords vying for power.
- The Islamic Caliphate was overthrown by the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled over a smaller empire.
- The Byzantine Empire was revived, with the capital city of Constantinople being rebuilt and fortified.
10th century (901-1000 AD):
- The Tang Dynasty was overthrown by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, which saw regional warlords vying for power.
- The Abbasid Caliphate continued to rule over the Islamic world, with significant cultural and scientific advances.
- The Byzantine Empire continued to thrive, with the reign of Basil II (976-1025 AD) seeing significant military victories.
11th century (1001-1100 AD):
- The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in China saw significant cultural and economic growth, with the invention of the woodblock printing press.
- The Islamic world was overthrown by the Seljuk Turks, who established the Seljuk Empire.
- The Byzantine Empire continued to decline, with the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 AD seeing the Turks conquer much of Anatolia.
12th century (11001-1200 AD):
- The Song Dynasty in China saw significant cultural and economic growth, with the invention of the compass and gunpowder.
- The Crusades were launched by Christian Europe against the Muslim-controlled Holy Land.
- The Byzantine Empire was overthrown by the Fourth Crusade in 1204 AD, which established the Latin Empire.
13th century (1201-1300 AD):
- The Mongol Empire, led by Genghis Khan, conquered a vast portion of the known world, including China, Central Asia, Russia, and Eastern Europe.
- The Song Dynasty in China saw significant cultural and economic growth, with the invention of the compass and gunpowder.
- The Latin Empire was established in Constantinople after the Fourth Crusade.
14th century (1301-1400 AD):
- The Black Death, a pandemic that spread across Europe, killed an estimated 75 to 200 million people, leading to significant social, economic, and cultural changes.
- The Hundred Years' war was fought between England and France, lasting from 13377 to 1453 AD.
- The Ottoman Empire began to expand, eventually becoming one of the largest and most powerful empires in the world.
15th century (1401-1500 AD):
- The Renaissance began in Italy, marked by a renewed interest in classical Greek and Roman culture and learning.
- The Gutenberg Printing Press was invented, revolutionizing the spread of information and knowledge.
- The Age of Exploration began, with European explorers such as Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama discovering new lands and establishing trade routes.
16th century (1501-1600 AD):
- The Protestant Reformation, led by figures such as Martin Luther and John Calvin, challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and led to the development of Protestantism.
- The Elizabethan era in England saw a golden age of literature, with playwrights such as William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe.
- The Ottoman Empire continued to expand, with Suleiman the Magnificent ruling over a vast empire.
17th century (1601-1700 AD):
- The Thirty Years' War was fought in Europe, lasting from 1618 to 1648 AD and resulting in significant loss of life and destruction.
- The English Civil War was fought between the Parliamentarians and the Royalists, resulting in the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.
- The Scientific Revolution saw significant advances in science and technology, with figures such as Galileo and Isaac Newton making groundbreaking discoveries.
18th century (1701-1800 AD):
- The Enlightenment saw a renewed emphasis on reason and individual rights, with figures such as Voltaire and Immanuel Kant making significant contributions to philosophy.
- The Industrial Revolution began in Britain, with the development of new technologies and machinery leading to significant economic and social changes.
- The American Revolution saw the establishment of the United States as an independent nation, with the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
19th century (1801-1900 AD):
- The Napoleonic Wars saw the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, who conquered much of Europe before being defeated at the Battle of Waterloo.
- The Victorian era in Britain saw significant social, economic, and cultural changes, with the growth of the British Empire and the development of new technologies.
- The American Civil War was fought between the Union and the Confederacy, resulting in the abolition of slavery and the preservation of the Union.
20th century (1901-2000 AD):
- World War I saw the involvement of many nations in a global conflict, resulting in significant loss of life and destruction.
- The Russian Revolution saw the establishment of the Soviet Union, with the rule of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin.
- The Cold War saw a period of political tension and proxy wars between the United States and the Soviet Union, with the development of nuclear weapons and the Space Race.
21st century (2001-present):
- The War on Terror saw a global conflict between the United States and terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
- The Arab Spring saw significant political uprisings and changes in the Middle East and North Africa.
- The COVID-19 pandemic saw a global health Crisis, with significant economic and social impacts.