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It is commonly thought that B.C. stands for "before Christ" and A.D. stands for "after death." This is only half correct. How could the year 1 B.C. have been "before Christ" and A.D. 1 been "after ...
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BC and AD are used to mark years in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. They stand for: * **BC:** **Before Christ**, referring to years before the estimated birth of Jesus Christ. * **AD:** **Anno Domini**, Latin for "in the year of the Lord", referring to years after the estimated birth of Jesus Christ. It's important to note a few things: * **The exact year of Jesus' birth is unknown:** Historians believe it was likely 4-6 BC, not AD 1. * **Alternative terms exist:** Some people use **BCE** (Before the Common Era) and **CE** (Common Era) instead of BC and AD. These terms are considered more neutral and inclusive, as they don't reference Jesus Christ. * **BC/AD still widely used:** Despite the alternatives, BC and AD remain the most common way to refer to these periods in many contexts. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
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