Name:_____________________________________ Hour:_________
Using Timelines
Timelines are effective ways of visualizing a span of time. Generally it does not matter if that span is a
week, a year or the entire course of human history; timelines help us conceptualize the order and dates of
major events. Using a timeline effectively is not difficult; however it does require understanding some basic
concepts.
Two Major Time Periods
When examining world history, a timeline is generally divided into two major time periods. The first time
period is generally called “BC” or “Before Christ”. The second time period is called “AD” or “Anno
Domini” which is Latin for “In the year of (Our) Lord”. These two time periods are separated by the
moment in time—zero. All history before zero is arranged in a descending sequence. All history after zero
is arranged in an ascending order.
BC
AD
------------I------------I------------I------------I------------I------------I------------I------------I------------I-----------100 BC 75 BC
50 BC
25 BC
0
25 AD
50 AD
75 AD 100 AD
Another Option
In more recent times, the usage of the acronyms BC and AD have come under some scrutiny. Since it is
understood that zero is the moment in which Jesus Christ was born, the BC-AD timeline is highly religious
in nature. Referring to events in terms of how many years the particular occurrence happened before or after
Christ walked this Earth is believed, by some, to be far too Christianized. As a result, a less religious label
has been developed for the major time periods.
Still using zero as a reference point, some historians are calling the BC time period—BCE, or “Before the
Common Era”. The AD then becomes CE, or “Common Era”. This is less associated with religion and
perhaps less offensive to non-Christians. AD and BC are still commonly use, understood and accepted.
BCE
CE
------------I------------I------------I------------I------------I------------I------------I------------I------------I-----------100 BCE 75 BCE 50 BCE 25 BCE
0
25 CE
50 CE
75 CE
100 CE
Counting Down is Counting Up?
Even though the time before zero appears to be a count down, we understand that time is not disintegrating.
This is simply a historically, traditional measure of years. If time were not measured in this fashion,
historians, scientists, archeologists and anthropologists would have very little idea how far back in time zero
would need to be placed. Using the “countdown” method enables the past to be endless—as we have not yet
figured out the historical, scientific and moral question of when time began.
We must also understand that counting down toward the year zero is still moving forward in history. For
example 25 BCE to 25 CE is 50 years. 100 BCE to 75 CE is 175 years. Time never subtracts itself.
OVER
Answer the following questions:
1. What does BC stand for?
2. What does AD stand for in Latin? In English?
3. What does BCE stand for?
4. What does CE stand for?
5. Why do some people prefer using BCE and CE over BC and AD?
Use the timeline below to answer the following questions.
BCE
CE
I------------I------------I------------I------------I------------I------------I------------I------------I-----------500
250
0
250
500
509
Roman
Republic
Founded
146
Fall of
the Greek
Empire
44
Caesar
killed
80
Colosseum
completed
476
Fall of the
Roman
Empire
6. Did Greek power end in the Common Era or
Before the Common Era?
9. Julius Caesar was killed how many years before
the Colosseum was completed?
7. Which Empire fell first, the Greek or the
Roman?
10. How long did the Colosseum serve the Roman
Empire?
8. How many years after the Roman Republic was
founded did the Greek Empire fall?