Turn of the century

In turn of the century is generally understood as the period of some years, in which a century merges into the next.

In a narrower sense, it is the epoch jump itself, but for which there are two points of view:

• Mathematically, strictly taken the leap comprises the turn of the year with the last digits of 00 and 01 (see Year Zero ).
• For the general public, the change of the hundreds digit of the year '99 to '00 the year of the century turning point: why was such a last celebrated in countries and of people with the Gregorian calendar for the year 1999/2000 worldwide.

Specifically meant to the turn of the century the change from the 19th to the 20th century, or about specifically the years 1896 to 1910, the fin de siècle. It was in Europe the Belle Époque, a period with strong political and social changes in the years before the First World War - and at the same time very distinctive styles in architecture, literature and art. Due to cultural turning point around 1914 Speak of the long nineteenth century.

For the last turn of the century from the 20th to the 21st century often the term millennium is used.