The document discusses different chronological systems used around the world. It defines BC/BCE as referring to years before Jesus Christ, and AD/CE as referring to years after Jesus Christ. BC and AD are used in the Gregorian calendar, while BCE and CE are used to avoid Christian references. Islamic countries date years from the Hegira, or Muhammad's journey in AD 622. A century is defined as 100 years. The document provides examples of interpreting dates on timelines, with BC/BCE dates decreasing as they approach 0 and AD/CE dates increasing after 0.

1. What does chronology
mean?
Move the box to see what the dictionary says.
Chronology is 'the order in which things happen.'
Jason Witschey – Nordonia 10-4-11
01

2. A large part of the world’s population uses the
Gregorian or Christian calendar that measures time
from the birth of Jesus.
The year of Jesus' birth and the years after are
recorded as AD, which stands for anno domini.
This is Latin and means 'in the year of our Lord.'
This year it is 2014 AD, but we don't usually write the AD anymore.
The time before Jesus was born is known as BC, which stands
for before Christ.
Jesus is born 2012
BC ADAD 1

3. What about the people who are NOT Christian?
The year of Jesus' birth and the years after are
recorded as CE, which stands for the Common Era.
This is done to avoid the Christian references.
This year it is 2012 CE, but we don't usually write the CE anymore.
The time before Jesus was born is known as BCE, which stands
for Before the Common Era. Again, this is done to avoid the
Christian reference.
Jesus is born 2012
BCE CECE 1

4. Chronology
Defining BC, BCE and AD, CE
B.C. = Before Christ
A.D. = Anno Domini = Latin for "Year of our Lord"
B.C.E = Before Common Era
C.E. Common Era
B.C. or B.C.E A.D. or C.E.
B.C. and A.D. can only be used together.
B.C.E. and C.E. can only be used together.

5. Understanding B.C. and A.D.
• B.C. Before Christ
• A.D. Anno Domini, “In the year of the
Lord”
• B.C.E. Before the Common Era
• C.E. In the Common Era

6. Understanding B.C. and A.D.
• Dates are based on when it is believed Jesus
Christ was born.
• These dates are divided into 2 groups
B.C./B.C.E. and A.D/C.E.

7. Islamic timelines
• Islamic countries start their timelines from
Muhammad’s journey from Mecca , this
happened in the year AD 622, so in these
countries the number of years is not same as
ours.
• The year we call AD 2000 is known as AH 1420.
• AH means After Hejira (When Muhammad
went from Mecca to Medina)

8. Understanding Centuries
• A century is 100 years. We say we live in the
21st century. This means we live in the twenty
first set of 100 years since the birth of Christ.
However, the 21st does not start with 21 years
but years such as 2000, 2001, 2002 etc.

9. Dates on a Timeline
• B.C. and B.C.E. dates go from higher numbers (500
B.C. or B.C.E.) to lower numbers (200 B.C. or
B.C.E.).
• A.D. and C.E. dates go from lower numbers (100
A.D. or C.E.) to higher numbers (2001 A.D. or C.E.)
B.C. or B.C.E 0 A.D. or C.E.
(#’s decrease as time passes) (#’s increase as time passes)
Birth of Jesus
500 BC 375 BC 250 BC 125 BC 508
AD
1008
AD
1508
AD
2008
AD

10. Interpreting a Timeline
• Which year is closer to the present or today?
– 25 B.C., 2000 B.C., 500 B.C.E., 125 B.C.E.
– 2012 B.C.E., 2000 C.E., 1500 B.C.E., 2010 C.E.
• How many years are between the dates
below?
– 375 B.C. and 125 B.C.
– 125 B.C. and 500 A.D.
– 250 B.C.E. and 1500 C.E.

11. Remember:
Dates work backwards before Jesus.
So 100 BC is 90 years before 10 BC!
Can you sort these dates in order and drag them to the timeline?
2012 AD
2012 BC
1066 AD
917 AD 1964 AD1467 BC
1350 BC
32 BC
1

12. B.C. and B.C.E dates get smaller as they get closer to the
present. It is like a countdown.
Example: If you were born in 270 B.C.E.
and if you lived 70 years,
you would have died in 200 B.C.E.
(not 340 B.C.E).