The Evolution of Timekeeping: BC and Our Modern Era

Before the introduction of the BC and AD system, people did not refer to time in relation to the birth of Christ. Different cultures and civilizations had their own methods of timekeeping, often based on significant events in their own histories or the reigns of local rulers.

Pre-AD Timekeeping Systems

Before the establishment of the BC/AD system, people had no concept of a uniformly recognized era. For instance, the Jews had their own calendar, still in use today, while the Romans used a calendar based on the traditional founding of Rome, dating back to 753 BC. They also used years based on the reigns of emperors, such as 'in the 14th Year of the Emperor Augustus.' The Greeks and Egyptians used calendars related to historical events or the reigns of Pharaohs respectively.

The Birth of the BC/AD System

The BC/AD system was not invented until around 500 AD. It was created by a monk named Dionysius Exiguus, who needed a system to calculate Easter dates accurately. He placed the birth of Jesus Christ at the start of the era, hence the year 1. Prior to this, other systems existed, such as the Julian calendar, which measured from the mythical foundation of Rome in 753 BC. Other cultures had their own unique dating systems that focused on important local events, with no relation to the birth of Christ.

The Concept of Time Before BC

People before the year 1 AD did not know they were living in relation to the birth of Christ. Their calendars were often based on local events and rulers, not on a global historical milestone. For example, Romans would only need names for a few recent years, typically named after the Consuls who served in those years. These years were remembered by their names and not by a specific year count. The rest of their history was often shrouded in myth and oral tradition, with little need for precise dating.

Academics and officials might have had a need for more precise dating, but the general population did not. Time was often marked in relation to significant local events and not globally significant ones such as the birth of a religious figure.

Conclusion

The introduction of the BC/AD system was a significant development in the way we understand and record time. Before this, different cultures had their own calendrical systems that were not related to the birth of Christ. The BC/AD system, as created by Dionysius Exiguus, was a logical progression of timekeeping, providing a standardized framework for historical events.