Calling history buffs !

[tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz]

Hello!

DD is doing her transition tasks for >fingers crossed < moving into A Level Ancient History and has this task. The first answer was pre filled.

We're confused though - surely 31BC is before 776?

Also - what's BCE? Where does that fit in the order of BC and AD?

Thanks for reading

BCE and CE are the updated versions of BC and AD, to allow for non Christian perspectives. (I think). CE stands for Common Era (equivalent to AD. BCE is Before Common Era

So for BCE you count backwards from 0. It's much easier if you plot them on a time line - 776 is further along the BCE timeline from zero so it's earlier

I teach BC/BCE as negative numbers going backwards if that makes it easier for her to understand?

You know positive and negative numbers don’t you? BC is a countdown to 0. Then AD is counting up from 0 to the present day.

Task F:
10 years before 8AD = 2BC
10 years before 2BC = 12BC

Wouldn't 31BC be the first of those numbers though as it's closer to 0?

So is BCE the same as BC? So it's like they've have used different terms for the same unit, kind of thing?

God I'm thick

Different names for the same thing.
BC = BCE
AD = CE

Hope this helps.

If you're thinking of what happened first in history then you are looking as far to the left on the timeline as you can. So if your timeline extends beyond zero and into BCE then the numbers get bigger.
It's not thick to not know stuff. Because in that case all of us are thick because none of us knows everything

Ok I think the penny is starting to drop but it's one of those things I'll need to go and write down while reading all your posts again. Thanks folks and @Habbibu for such lovely comments

It is one of those things that can take a little while to click. It can feel a little bit counterintuitive which is why setting out on a timeline works well.
You are most welcome - every achievement I think I've had academically has been through putting my head above the parapet and risking feeling a bit stupid. Also, as I tell the kids in my class, if they all knew how to do everything straight away, I'd be out of a job!

@Bellamari that's an excellent resource🌼

This is amazing! Thank you!

As others have said BCE=BC stands for "before common era"
CE=AD stands for "Common era"
Removes the religious connotations.