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years were numbered to count backward to indicate the number of years an event had occurred “before Christ” or “B.C.”

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14y ago

Because we do not know exactly when time started, we cannot always count upward. Using the birth of Jesus as an arbitrary measurement, the years form a numberline. This allows us to count backwards for as long as we want without reaching a limit or running out of numbers to use.

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15y ago

BC years ("Before Christ") are counting down to the birth of Jesus Christ, and AD years ("Anno Domini", after his birth) are counting the years after the birth of Jesus.

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Q: Why does the dates go backwards in BC?
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Related questions

What year comes before 1 BC?

2 B.C.The years before 1 AD go backwards; 2 BC was before 1 BC, 3 BC was before 2 BC, and so on. After 1 AD, the years go forward; 1, 2, 3....(We are in the year 2011 A.D.)


When did Egyptian civilization begin with the union of upper and lower Egypt?

Circa 3150 BC (this date is largely based on working backwards from known dates)


Is 1200 BC before 776 BC?

Yes it was. The years BC count backwards to the year 1 BC (12000, 11999, 11998 etc)


Who is older someone born in 1760 BCE or 1450 BCE?

Someone who is born in 1760 Bc. because in BC. the dates go backwards. For example, lets say someone was 33yrs old and they were born in 1200BC. And their mom is 53yrs old. and she was born in 999Bc. She is older. Do you get it? If not to get more info. search in by ask.com. Hope it helped! :)


What year came after 184 BC?

The year that comes after 184 BC is 183 BC.


Can a clock go backwards?

No, it can't go backwards


Is the year 460 bc before 370 bc?

Yes because in BC it goes backwards meaning that 50BC is closer to present day than 500BC


When do the clocks go backwards an hour?

does the clock go backwards


Does BC go backwards?

Yes, prior to the birth of Jesus Christ years counted backwards.....30 B.C. stands for 30 years Before Christ


What goes first on a time line 450 BC or 500 BC?

500. BC goes backwards. ie. ..., 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 , 1, 0, 1, 2, 3 , 4, 5, 6 , 7.... BC AD This happens because nobody really knows when BC started so the numbers can go back forever.


Why are BC dates are counted backwards?

It is a countdown to the birth of your savior. 10 BC is ten years before the birth of christ. 9 BC is nine years before the birth of christ, etc. In the Christian world the year is 2012 AD. If you are Muslim the year is 1433 AH. The AD and AH originated from Latin and indicate after birth, not after death.


Is 442 BC before or after 384 BC?

BC (also BCE) is before CE, which is a secular form of the suffix AD.BC = Before ChristBCE = Before Current Era (same years as BC)AD = Anno Domini (Year of our Lord, i.e. year after Christ)CE = Current Era (same years as AD)