---
title: "What is the AD and BC time period?"  
description: "A short explanation of the AD and BC time periods and years"  
author: "Anjita D."  
published: 2023-09-16  
canonical: https://yourviews.mindstick.com/story/2504/what-is-the-ad-and-bc-time-period  
category: "science and history"  
tags: ["facts", "general knowledge"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# What is the AD and BC time period?

![What is the AD and BC time period](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/stories/9ba5ca08-61df-49da-9c6d-70fe26430d50/images/d2b90232-ee31-47fc-a858-400f1b55c5c3.jpeg) ![What is the AD and BC time period](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/stories/9ba5ca08-61df-49da-9c6d-70fe26430d50/images/d2b90232-ee31-47fc-a858-400f1b55c5c3.jpeg) AD stands for Anno Domini, which is Latin for "in the year of the Lord." BC stands for Before Christ. ![What is the AD and BC time period](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/stories/9ba5ca08-61df-49da-9c6d-70fe26430d50/images/8943ff2f-ca3a-4fd6-8855-547c81093594.jpeg) It is a system of numbering years that is based on the traditionally calculated year of the conception or birth of Jesus Christ. ![What is the AD and BC time period](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/stories/9ba5ca08-61df-49da-9c6d-70fe26430d50/images/8943ff2f-ca3a-4fd6-8855-547c81093594.jpeg) Some people prefer to use the terms Common Era (CE) and Before Common Era (BCE) instead of AD and BC. ![What is the AD and BC time period](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/stories/9ba5ca08-61df-49da-9c6d-70fe26430d50/images/94da8a7d-d626-4c16-a9c6-d0acd596fc63.jpeg) The AD/BC system is used to date both historical and modern events. ![What is the AD and BC time period](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/stories/9ba5ca08-61df-49da-9c6d-70fe26430d50/images/94da8a7d-d626-4c16-a9c6-d0acd596fc63.jpeg) At present, the AD/BC system is still the most widely used system of numbering years.

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Original Source: https://yourviews.mindstick.com/story/2504/what-is-the-ad-and-bc-time-period

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