BC: Difference between revisions
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'''BC''', meaning ''Before Christ,'' was an initialism used to designate an [[Earth]] year's position relative to year zero. Hence, 1 BC was 1 year before 0. The term "BC" thus designated a negative number; 100 BC was 99 years ''before'' 1 BC. Its positive counterpart was [[AD]]. | '''BC''', meaning ''Before Christ,'' was an initialism used to designate an [[Earth]] year's position relative to year zero. Hence, 1 BC was 1 year before 0. The term "BC" thus designated a negative number; 100 BC was 99 years ''before'' 1 BC. Its positive counterpart was [[AD]]. | ||
==Behind the scenes== | ==Behind the scenes== | ||
An inherently [[Christian]] designation, BC is not generally used in calendars of the traditionally non-Christian world. Consequently, some people use BCE (meaning ''Before Common Era'') for BC | An inherently [[Christian]] designation, BC is not generally used in calendars of the traditionally non-Christian world. Consequently, some people use BCE (meaning ''Before Common Era'') for BC. CE (meaning ''Common Era'') substitutes for AD. These largely cosmetic replacements are thought to avoid religious offence. However, ''[[Doctor Who]]'' fiction has typically remained loyal to the BC/AD convention. Even as late as the [[RTD]] and [[Steven Moffat|Moffat]] eras, dialogue and on-screen graphics prefer the Christian convention. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Fires of Pompeii]]'', ''[[The Pandorica Opens]]'', ''[[A Good Man Goes to War]]'') | ||
{{wikipediainfo|Common Era}} | {{wikipediainfo|Common Era}} | ||
[[Category:Dating systems]] | [[Category:Dating systems]] | ||
Revision as of 20:52, 11 July 2011
BC, meaning Before Christ, was an initialism used to designate an Earth year's position relative to year zero. Hence, 1 BC was 1 year before 0. The term "BC" thus designated a negative number; 100 BC was 99 years before 1 BC. Its positive counterpart was AD.
Behind the scenes
An inherently Christian designation, BC is not generally used in calendars of the traditionally non-Christian world. Consequently, some people use BCE (meaning Before Common Era) for BC. CE (meaning Common Era) substitutes for AD. These largely cosmetic replacements are thought to avoid religious offence. However, Doctor Who fiction has typically remained loyal to the BC/AD convention. Even as late as the RTD and Moffat eras, dialogue and on-screen graphics prefer the Christian convention. (DW: The Fires of Pompeii, The Pandorica Opens, A Good Man Goes to War)
