What is BCE, BC and AD?

"BCE," "BC," and "AD" are terms used to represent different eras in historical dating systems:

1. BCE: BCE stands for "Before Common Era." It is a secular equivalent to the traditional "BC," which stands for "Before Christ." BCE is used to indicate years before the start of the Common Era (CE) or the current era. The Common Era is the period that follows the estimated birth year of Jesus Christ, which is traditionally considered the starting point of the modern Western calendar.

2. BC: BC stands for "Before Christ." It is an older term used to indicate years before the birth of Jesus Christ. For example, 100 BC means 100 years before the commonly accepted year of Jesus Christ's birth.

3. AD: AD stands for "Anno Domini," which is Latin for "In the Year of Our Lord." It is used to represent years in the Common Era (CE) or the current era. AD marks the period after the estimated birth year of Jesus Christ. For example, AD 2023 means 2023 years after the commonly accepted year of Jesus Christ's birth.

It's worth noting that there is no year 0 in this dating system. The transition from BC to AD happens directly, with 1 BC being followed by AD 1. To avoid the year 0, astronomers and historians use the term "CE" (Common Era) in place of AD, and "BCE" (Before Common Era) in place of BC, to maintain the continuity of the dating system without referencing a particular religious event.