Using Timelines to Understand

History

The Gregorian Calendar

• Invented by the Romans.• Improved by Pope Gregory XIII –

he added Leap Year.• Events are relative the date that

Christians believed Jesus was born.

Other Calendars

It is currently the year:• 2015 on the Christian calendar• 5775 on the Hebrew calendar• 1436 AH on the Islamic calendar• Year of the Sheep on the Chinese

calendar

The Gregorian Calendar

• BC = “Before Christ”• AD = “Anno Domini”– No, it does not mean “after death”.– Latin meaning: “the year of our lord”.– This year is 2014 years since

Christians believe Jesus was born.

The New System

• BCE means “Before the Common Era”– 44 BCE = 44 BC

• CE means “Common Era”– 2013 CE = 2013 AD

Similar to Number Lines

0-2 -1 1 2

1 CE2 BCE 1 BCE 2 CE 3 CE

Watch the video and answer the question at the end.

Class Definition

• The study of the past.–Key words: documents, people,

pictures, timelines…