BCE Meaning: What Does BCE Mean and Stand For?

BCE Meaning and Origin

• BCE denotes years before the year 1 as an alternative to BC, promoting secularism and inclusivity in the Gregorian calendar.

What Does BCE Stand For?

BCE stands for “Before Common Era.” It is a year notation used alongside CE (Common Era) to date events, years, and centuries. BCE is used to label the years before the Common Era began, which is similar in concept to terms like BC (Before Christ). The use of BCE/CE is considered a more secular alternative to the traditional BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini – Latin for “in the year of our Lord”) designations.

Origin and Context of BCE

The BCE notation has its roots in the work of a 6th-century monk named Dionysius Exiguus. When attempting to determine the date of Easter, Dionysius introduced the concept of Anno Domini, which counted years starting from the birth of Jesus Christ. However, the AD system did not account for the years predating Christ’s birth.

In the late 20th century, BCE and CE came to be used as alternatives to BC and AD by various historians, academic communities, and finer educational settings. The primary rationale for using the BCE/CE system is to avoid the Christian-specific connotations that the BC/AD system carries, making it more inclusive and neutral across cultures and religions.

Related Terms to BCE

• AD: An abbreviation for “Anno Domini,” which means “in the year of our Lord” in Latin. It represents the years and centuries following the birth of Christ (year 1 onwards).
• BC: An abbreviation for “Before Christ.” It is the traditional term used to denote years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Similar to BCE, it represents the years of history before the Christian era.
• CE: An abbreviation for “Common Era.” It is equivalent to the traditional “AD” and represents the years and centuries following the year 1.
• Gregorian Calendar: The most widely used calendar system in the world, which largely replaced the earlier Julian calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 and uses both BC/AD and BCE/CE notations. The system is used to standardize dates, years, and centuries.
• Julian Calendar: Established by Julius Caesar in 45 BC and a predecessor to the Gregorian calendar. The Julian calendar used BC/AD notations to label years and centuries.

It’s essential to note that the BCE/CE and BC/AD notations are numerically equivalent. There is no year zero in these systems; the year 1 BCE transitions directly into 1 CE (or 1 BC to 1 AD).

BCE Examples

In Conversations

When discussing historical events, using BCE can provide clarity and neutrality. Here are some examples of BCE usage in conversations:

• “The construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza was completed around 2560 BCE.”
• “Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was born around 563 BCE.”
• “The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates was convicted and sentenced to death in 399 BCE.”

In Texting

BCE can also be used in texts or instant messaging, especially when discussing historical topics or dates. Here are some examples of how to use BCE in text form:

• “Did you know the ancient Indus Valley Civilization flourished around 2600-1900 BCE?”
• “I just learned about the Persian Achaemenid Empire, which was founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BCE.”
• “Fun fact: The historical Chinese philosopher Confucius was born around 551 BCE.”

In Social Posts

Sharing historical information on social media platforms often involves referencing BCE to provide accurate and neutral information. Here are some examples of using BCE in social media posts:

• “Amazing to think that Stonehenge was constructed between 3000 and 2000 BCE! ???? #historyfacts #stonehenge”
• “Today in history: Alexander the Great dies in Babylon at the age of 32 in 323 BCE. #history #alexanderthegreat”
• “The ancient Maya civilization developed around 2000 BCE and used a complex writing system. #mayaculture #historicalfinds”