Chronology – Piecing Together the Past 2
History: KS3, topic 1.14.2
Chronology – Piecing Together the Past
Understanding chronology helps historians make sense of the past and see how different events are connected.
The Traditional System
- The traditional system uses BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini, meaning “in the year of our Lord”) to label years.
- For example, the Battle of Hastings took place in 1066 AD.
The Modern System
- A more modern system used BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era) as secular terms.
- For example, the construction of the Great Wall of China began around the 7th Century BCE.
Challenges in Chronology I
- Incomplete Records: Sometimes, there are not enough records to determine the exact dates of events.
- Lost History: Wars, natural disasters, and time can destroy evidence, making it harder to piece together the past.
Challenges in Chronology II
- Different Calendars: Different cultures used different calendars, which can complicate dating events accurately.
- Conversion: Historians often must convert dates from one calendar system to another.
Evaluation
- Understanding chronology helps historians make sense of the past and see how different events are connected.
- However, the lack of records and different calendar systems can make it challenging to establish a precise timeline.
Test yourself on Chronology – Piecing Together the Past 2
What do these abbreviations in the traditional chronological system represent?
When did the construction of the Great Wall of China begin?