Common Era

JKepler

Common Era (CE) is a term used to refer to the period of time beginning with the year 1 in the Gregorian calendar, the most widely used calendar system today, and continuing through the present and into the future. This era is synonymous with the term "Anno Domini" (AD), which is Latin for "in the year of our Lord", referring to the birth of Jesus Christ. The term "Common Era" is used as a secular alternative to "Anno Domini", especially in interfaith and multicultural contexts, to avoid the explicitly Christian connotation of the latter.

History and Usage

The concept of numbering years from the supposed birth of Jesus Christ was devised by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century as a means to replace the Diocletian era, which was named after the Roman Emperor Diocletian, known for his persecution of Christians. The use of AD was popularized by the Venerable Bede in the 8th century in his ecclesiastical history of the English people.

The term "Common Era" has its roots in Christian terminology; however, its usage as an alternative to Anno Domini became more widespread in the 17th and 18th centuries among scholars aiming to use more inclusive language. In the 20th and 21st centuries, CE has been adopted by many in the academic, scientific, and global business communities.

Comparison with Anno Domini

While CE and AD refer to the same era, the choice between them often reflects the user's desire to communicate in a way that is inclusive of all cultural and religious backgrounds. CE and its counterpart, Before Common Era (BCE), which is used instead of Before Christ (BC), are preferred in academic and intercultural settings.

Calendar Systems

The Gregorian calendar, which marks the Common Era, is a solar calendar with 365 days in a year and a leap year every four years. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 as a reform of the Julian calendar to more accurately reflect the length of the solar year and to fix the date of the spring equinox. Other calendar systems, such as the Islamic calendar, the Hebrew calendar, and the Hindu calendar, use different eras and year numbering systems.

Significance

The use of the Common Era notation reflects a global perspective and acknowledges the diversity of cultural and religious traditions. It facilitates mutual understanding and respect in international and multicultural discourse. However, the transition from BC/AD to BCE/CE has been met with resistance in some quarters, where it is seen as an attempt to diminish the historical centrality of Jesus Christ in the Western calendar.

Current Year

As of the current year in the Common Era, the Gregorian calendar continues to be the dominant system for civil purposes worldwide. It is used for marking historical events, planning, and in daily life, demonstrating the lasting impact of a system developed over two millennia ago.