What do AD and BC mean, as well as CE and BCE?
For anyone trying to understand historical timelines, the abbreviations AD, BC, CE, and BCE can be pretty confusing.
You'll often see these terms in history books, museums, and even casual conversations about the past.
The terms are used to help divide human history. Understanding these terms helps us make sense of how historians organize time and gives us a common language to talk about the past—whether it’s the fall of Rome or the moon landing.
Let’s break down what each of these abbreviations means and how they help us understand history.
AD and BC: The traditional system
The terms AD and BC have been used for hundreds of years and are based on Christian tradition.
BC stands for 'Before Christ' and refers to all the years before the birth of Jesus Christ.
The numbers go backward from year 1, so 500 BC is earlier than 200 BC.
AD stands for the Latin phrase 'Anno Domini', which means 'in the year of our Lord'. AD is used for the years after Jesus was born.
Unlike BC, AD years move forward from year 1. There is no year 0—the timeline goes directly from 1 BC to AD 1.
AD is usually written before the year number, like AD 2024, but sometimes it is seen after, like 2024 AD.
This system was introduced by a monk named Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, when he created a table to calculate the dates of Easter.
It became popular in Europe and was widely used as the Christian calendar spread.
Today, it is still commonly used, especially in religious and Western historical contexts.
CE and BCE: A more inclusive approach
More recently, historians and scholars have started using the terms CE and BCE as a more inclusive alternative to AD and BC.
CE stands for 'Common Era', and BCE stands for 'Before Common Era'. These terms work the same way as AD and BC—BCE counts backward, and CE counts forward from year 1.
CE and BCE allow people of all faiths (or no faith) to talk about historical dates without directly mentioning Christianity.
For example, instead of saying '300 BC,' someone might say '300 BCE.' Instead of 'AD 1066,' one might use '1066 CE.'
These terms are meant to be more neutral and respectful in a world where not everyone shares the same beliefs.
Does it matter which system you use in an assignment?
When writing an assignment, it’s important to consider the guidelines your teacher or school has given.
Some teachers might prefer AD and BC, while others might prefer CE and BCE for a more inclusive approach.
Most of the time, either system is acceptable, as long as you are consistent: pick one system and use it throughout your assignment.
This way, your work will be clear and easy to follow, regardless of which terms you use.
So why do some people say that AD means 'After Death'?
A common misunderstanding is that AD stands for 'After Death'—meaning after the death of Jesus.
However, this isn't correct, as you now know that it actually stands for 'Anno Domini', and it refers to the years following the birth of Jesus, not his death.
The confusion likely comes from trying to match AD with BC, but the truth is that AD covers the years after Jesus was born, while BC covers the years before his birth.
Why do we use these systems?
Both systems help us understand history by dividing time into 'before' and 'after' based on a big event—in this case, the birth of Jesus.
This makes it easier to organize history. While AD and BC are connected to Christianity, CE and BCE offer a way to keep the same structure while including people of different beliefs.
Even though they use different names, all four terms serve the same purpose: to help us place events in order, whether we’re talking about ancient civilizations, empires, or important inventions.
No matter which terms you use, they intend to make history easier to understand and meaningful for everyone.
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