BCE, short for "Before the Common Era," is a notation used to refer to dates that occurred in the past, specifically prior to the year 0 of the Gregorian calendar. It is an alternative to the term "BC" (Before Christ), which carries religious connotations due to its reference to the birth of Jesus Christ and is thus not universally applicable or accepted.
BCE is typically used in academic and scholarly circles, particularly in historical and archaeological studies, to provide a neutral and standardized way of denoting dates. It denotes the period of time that precedes the Common Era, which starts at 1 CE (or AD, Anno Domini, meaning "in the year of our Lord"), marking the estimated birth of Jesus Christ according to the Gregorian calendar.
As a notation, BCE functions similarly to BC, with both denoting the time span before a designated point. They are often used interchangeably, but BCE is generally favored when a more inclusive and non-denominational option is desired. The introduction of BCE as an alternative to BC has allowed for a more global and religiously neutral approach to dating, accommodating diverse cultural and religious backgrounds in academic discourse.
In summary, BCE is an abbreviation used to indicate dates that existed before the Common Era, serving as an alternative to the BC notation with a more inclusive and secular approach.
