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Reading a Timeline
Finding the difference between BC
and AD
The Calendar
Calendar used today is the Gregorian
Calendar
Based on the central Christian figure Christ
B.C.
Stands for “Before Christ”
The larger the number, the earlier the date
For example, 800 B.C. is earlier than
300 B.C.
A.D.
Stands for “Anno Domini”, which means
“In the year of the Lord”
The time after the Christ was born
The smaller the number, the earlier in time
For example, 200 A.D. is earlier than
700 A.D.
Today would be considered A.D.
B.C. and B.C.E
B.C. and B.C.E. are interchangeable (they
relate to the same period of time)
B.C.E. stands for “before common era”
B.C.E. does not relate to a religion, so it has
become more common today
For example, 700 B.C. is the same year as
700 B.C.E.
A.D. and C.E.
A.D. and C.E. are interchangeable (they
relate to the same period of time)
C.E. stands for “Common Era”, which is
today
For example, 1999 A.D. is the same as
1999 C.E.
***Be careful not to confuse B.C.E. and C.E.
Putting it all together
Place the following dates on a timeline:
323 B.C. Alexander the Great built his empire
from Greece to India
622 A.D. The birth of Islam
476 A.D. Romulus Augustus was taken prisoner
of the German King, ending the Roman Empire
4 B.C. Jesus Christ was born
44 B.C. Julius Caesar was assassinated
The Timeline
323 B.C.
Alexander
the Great
builds his
empire
44 B.C. 4 B.C.
Julius
Christ is
Caesar is born
assasinate
d
622 A.D.
476 A.D.
The Birth
Romulus
Augustus was of Islam
taken prisoner of
the German
King, ending the
Roman Empire