B.C.

Before the manger

B.C. stands for "before Christ" and marks years counted backward from the traditional date of Jesus's birth.

Events dated B.C. precede year 1 A.D.: The pyramids were built around 2500 B.C.

The secular alternative BCE ("before common era") is increasingly used in academic contexts.

Also written BC.

chronology

BCE

Secular historical era notation

  • ADEra after BC
  • A.D.Era after year one
  • CEPost-BC time marker

ancient · antiquity · prehistoric · era · epoch · millennium · century · dating · timeline · historical

geography

British Columbia

Canada's western coastal province

Canada · provincial · Rockies · coastline

Categories
Opposites
chronological era

B.C.A.D.

Era after year one

AD · Anno Domini · CE · C.E. · Common Era

Family

B.C.E.

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Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G