Difference between revisions of "Anno Domini"
(Category Change, Links) |
|||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | The AD system of dating was first invented by a Roman Catholic monk named Dionysus in Italy in the 6th century AD. Unfortunately, his computations met with a problem. Herod the Great died in 4 BC, and the census of Judea took place when that province was annexed by Rome in AD 6. Presumably, Dionysus compromised and chose a year about halfway between these to start his calendar with. Either way, it is incorrect in a strict historical sense. Previously, people in Europe measured time from the accession of the Emperor [[Diocletian]] in AD 284, or from the founding of the city of Rome in 753 BC, or simply by naming the annually elected [[consul]]s. | + | The AD system of dating was first invented by a [[Roman Catholic]] monk named [[Dionysus]] in Italy in the 6th century AD. Unfortunately, his computations met with a problem. [[Herod the Great]] died in 4 BC, and the census of Judea took place when that province was annexed by Rome in AD 6. Presumably, Dionysus compromised and chose a year about halfway between these to start his calendar with. Either way, it is incorrect in a strict historical sense. Previously, people in Europe measured time from the accession of the Emperor [[Diocletian]] in AD 284, or from the founding of the city of Rome in 753 BC, or simply by naming the annually elected [[consul]]s. |
The Anglo-Saxon historian [[Bede]] was one of the first scholars to use the AD system, in his book [[The Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]. | The Anglo-Saxon historian [[Bede]] was one of the first scholars to use the AD system, in his book [[The Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]. | ||
| − | [[Category:Dating | + | |
| + | [[Category:Dating Systems]] | ||
Revision as of 20:52, October 4, 2007
Anno Domini is Latin, conventionally translated into English as "in the year of the Lord." The conventional abbreviation is AD; periods after each letter are an optional matter of style, but modern usage dislikes them.
AD is sometimes misinterpreted as being an abbreviation for "after death," referring specifically to the death of Jesus Christ. This causes the common confusion resulting from the general consensus is that Jesus died roughly AD 32.
In general, English usage follows Latin by placing the abbreviation before the year number for AD, but after the year number for BC, although there are several exceptions to the first part of this principle. Constructions such as "the fourth century AD" are widely accepted, but using full month-and-day with AD is not (one does not write "September 11, 2001, AD").
BC is an English initialism meaning "Before Christ" and always is the last element. If the context does not otherwise indicate we are in such times, one is obligated to use the form. One can use it with full explicit dates, e.g., "Julius Caesar was killed March 15, 44 BC".
History
The AD system of dating was first invented by a Roman Catholic monk named Dionysus in Italy in the 6th century AD. Unfortunately, his computations met with a problem. Herod the Great died in 4 BC, and the census of Judea took place when that province was annexed by Rome in AD 6. Presumably, Dionysus compromised and chose a year about halfway between these to start his calendar with. Either way, it is incorrect in a strict historical sense. Previously, people in Europe measured time from the accession of the Emperor Diocletian in AD 284, or from the founding of the city of Rome in 753 BC, or simply by naming the annually elected consuls.
The Anglo-Saxon historian Bede was one of the first scholars to use the AD system, in his book The Ecclesiastical History of the English People.
