The phrase "before the Common Era" is often used to refer to dates before the year 1 CE, which marks the beginning of the Christian Era. In phonetic transcription, the pronunciation is represented as /bɪˈfɔːr ðə ˈkɒmən ˈɪərə/. The word "before" is pronounced with stress on the first syllable, followed by a mid-central vowel sound in the second syllable, and a final consonant cluster of /r/ and /d/. The phrase "Common Era" is pronounced with stress on the first syllable of both words, followed by a diphthong in "common" and a long vowel in "era".
"Before the Common Era" (BCE) is a term used to designate dates in history before the widely-recognized starting point of the Common Era (CE) or Anno Domini (AD). BCE is a secular alternative to the traditionally dominant dating system based on the birth of Jesus Christ as the beginning of the Christian era.
The term signifies years counted backwards from the year zero, with BCE replacing the previously used "BC" or "Before Christ." BCE is used to indicate historical time frames before the advent of the Common Era, providing a neutral and inclusive terminology that is not grounded in any particular religious or cultural belief system.
While BCE and CE are numerically equivalent to BC and AD, respectively, they represent a more contemporary and inclusive approach to dating historical events. The BCE system acknowledges the global nature of history and accommodates individuals from various religious and cultural backgrounds by focusing on a culturally neutral, secular perspective. It is used mainly in scholarly works, textbooks, and academic circles to promote a broader understanding and recognition of pre-Christian era events and civilizations.
By adopting BCE and CE, historians and scholars aim to ensure an unbiased representation of history while maintaining a standardized chronological framework that can be easily understood and adopted worldwide.