People use the opportunity of a nice round number to look back on times past. In the spirit of Y2K (still one more year to the millennium itself!) this year's puzzle asks you to put events which occurred on or near a century mark in their proper chronological place. Fill in the gaps after the years in the table below with key letters from the right. When you are done, the letters from top to bottom will spell out a timely message.
Please note some events do not belong in this timeframe at all, and one event appears twice in history!
| 100 A.D. | A. Theater of Sabratha built in Tripolitana. | |
| 200 A.D. | B. Postal service established in China. | |
| 300 A.D. | C. Aztecs expand under Montezuma II. | |
| 400 A.D. | D. Hopewell culture fades in North America. | |
| 500 A.D. | E. The British East India Company opens a trading post in Canton. | |
| 600 A.D. | F. The Mandinka people establish the Kingdom of Mali. | |
| 700 A.D. | G. Paper invented in China. | |
| 800 A.D. | H. Kievan Russia converts to Orthodox Christianity. | |
| 900 A.D. | I. Tamerlane defeats Ottomans at Ankara. | |
| 1000 A.D. | J. Celts sack Rome. | |
| 1100 A.D. | K. Ball bearings are developed in Europe. | |
| 1200 A.D. | L. Mayan civilization ends. | |
| 1300 A.D. | M. Windmills first used in Iran. | |
| 1400 A.D. | N. Vikings begin raids on Europe. | |
| 1500 A.D. | O. Venerable Bede ordained as priest. | |
| 1600 A.D. | P. The crossbow is first developed in China. | |
| 1700 A.D. | Q. Potatoes are domesticated in South America. | |
| 1800 A.D. | R. The Rosetta Stone is discovered in Egypt. | |
| 1900 A.D. | S. First law school opens in Bologna. | |
| 2000 A.D. | T. Alfred the Great dies. | |
| U. Diocletian's decrees trigger the Great Persecution. | ||
| V. The Scythians conquer the Cimmerians. | ||
| W. The Sarmatians conquer the Scythians. | ||
| X. King Asoka turns to Buddhism. | ||
| Y. Zeroes suddenly become important in computation. | ||
| Z. UFOs invade Poland. |