Understanding the Misconception: Why We Denote the 18th Century as 1701 to 1800

What do we mean when we refer to the '18th century'? Many might initially assume it spans from 1700 to 1799, erroneously thinking that this would align with the hundreds place of the years in question. However, the correct period for the 18th century is from 1701 to 1800. This conflation of centuries confuses many people, leading to debates and simpler categorizations such as the "1700s".

Historical Context of Centuries

The confusion arises from the historical conventions used to organize time. The first Christian century started with the year 1 AD, marking the beginning of the Common Era (CE). Due to the absence of a year 0, the first century extended from 1 AD to 100 AD, followed by the second century from 101 AD to 200 AD. This convention holds into the present day, with the 21st century denoting the years 2001 through 2100.

How Centuries Are Named and Structured

Historical centuries are divided into 100-year periods. Each century is named according to the hundreds place in the year it starts, not the year it ends:

1st Century (1 AD to 100 AD) 2nd Century (101 AD to 200 AD) 3rd Century (201 AD to 300 AD) 18th Century (1701 AD to 1800 AD) 21st Century (2001 AD to 2100 AD)

Thus, the 18th century is not 1700 to 1799 but rather 1701 to 1800.

The Term 'Teenth Century' and its Inappropriateness

The term 'teenth century' is a linguistic relic of a bygone educational system that confused cardinal and ordinal numbers. Cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.) directly correspond to quantification, whereas ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) denote sequence. In the context of centuries, we use ordinal numbers. For instance, the 18th century is called the 18th, not the "17-teenths" or "1700-tenthoms".

This term serves as a shibboleth, a marker of sophistication and education. While it adds a layer of complexity and possibly whimsy to discussions, it is best to adhere to the conventional naming and dating system for clarity.

Decoding the Time Periods: A Comprehensive Timeline

For greater clarity, let us break down the timeline from a historical standpoint:

The 1st Century covers the years 1 AD to 100 AD.

The 18th Century spans from 1701 AD to 1800 AD.

The 21st Century includes the years 2001 AD to 2100 AD.

Similarly, other common confusions arise in contemporary time references. The term '2120s' is an incorrect representation. The teen decades are named based on the last two digits of the year. Therefore, the decade ending in 2020 is accurately referred to as the '2020s', and the next decade will be from 2021 to 2030.

Similarly, the 1700s refer to the years from 1700 to 1799, while the 18th century ends on December 31, 1800.

Conclusion

Understanding the controversial term '18th century' as referring to 1701 to 1800 is crucial for historical and academic precision. Adopting the correct nomenclature aligns with the established conventions and avoids confusion. While terms like 'teenth' add some flavor to discussions, they lack the clarity and consistency of the ordinal naming system. Embracing these historical conventions ensures accurate and coherent communication over time.