Introduction
When studying history or reading about ancient events, you might have noticed that dates are often abbreviated with either BC or BCE. But what do these abbreviations mean, and what's the difference between them?
What is BC?
BC stands for "Before Christ" and refers to the time period before the birth of Jesus Christ. This means that BC is used to indicate years that occurred before the year 1 AD (Anno Domini), which marks the supposed year of Jesus' birth according to the Gregorian calendar.
What is BCE?
BCE stands for "Before the Common Era" and is used as a secular alternative to BC. BCE is also used to refer to the period of time before the year 1 AD, but it doesn't have any religious connotations like BC does.
Why Use BCE?
The use of BCE instead of BC is often favored by those who don't want to use religious terminology or who want to be more inclusive of non-Christian religions. BCE is also used in academic and scientific contexts where religious references are considered inappropriate or irrelevant.
History of the Abbreviations
The use of BC and BCE as date abbreviations dates back to the 17th century. BC was originally used in English language texts to refer to "Before Christ's Nativity," but this was later abbreviated to simply "Before Christ." BCE was first used in the mid-19th century as an alternative to BC.
Other Abbreviations
There are also other abbreviations that are similar to BC and BCE, such as AD (Anno Domini) and CE (Common Era). AD is used to refer to the time period after the birth of Jesus Christ, while CE is used as a secular alternative to AD.
Which Abbreviation to Use?
Whether to use BC or BCE is often a matter of personal preference or context. In religious contexts or when referring specifically to the birth of Jesus Christ, BC may be more appropriate. In academic or scientific contexts, or when trying to be more inclusive, BCE is often used.
Conclusion
BC and BCE are abbreviations used to refer to the time period before the year 1 AD. BC stands for "Before Christ," while BCE stands for "Before the Common Era." The use of BC and BCE is often a matter of personal preference or context, with BC being more appropriate in religious contexts and BCE being more inclusive in academic or scientific contexts.
