Full Version: B.C.E. & A.D.E. Time Line
Unexplained Mysteries Discussion Forums > Unexplained Mysteries > Ancient Mysteries & Alternative History
I'm curious how time was told back in ancient times. I've thought a lot about this and can't come to a reasonable conclusion. When did the ancients believe time started and why did they start counting backwards instead of forward? Zero was when Jesus Christ was supposedly born and then time started anew. Any thoughts on how time was chornographed?
why did the ancients count backwards? 
Well it was different for every civilization.
The Romans started counting since the foundation of Rome (753 BC), which was year 1, thus everything that happened before that was treated just like everything that happened before the birth of jesus is in our times. So this year should be year 2758 according to the Roman calendar.
The Jews had and still have their own count starting from the creation of the world (as they believe in) - as a matter of fact, this year is year 5765 according to the Jewish calendar.
Mind you though, that because the Jews believe the world itself was created 5765 years ago, obviously they also believe nothing happened before that.
Different civilization, different concepts of history and time.
The Romans started counting since the foundation of Rome (753 BC), which was year 1, thus everything that happened before that was treated just like everything that happened before the birth of jesus is in our times. So this year should be year 2758 according to the Roman calendar.
The Jews had and still have their own count starting from the creation of the world (as they believe in) - as a matter of fact, this year is year 5765 according to the Jewish calendar.
Mind you though, that because the Jews believe the world itself was created 5765 years ago, obviously they also believe nothing happened before that.
Different civilization, different concepts of history and time.
QUOTE(Erikl @ Jun 13 2005, 07:50 AM)
Well it was different for every civilization.
The Romans started counting since the foundation of Rome (753 BC), which was year 1, thus everything that happened before that was treated just like everything that happened before the birth of jesus is in our times. So this year should be year 2758 according to the Roman calendar.
The Jews had and still have their own count starting from the creation of the world (as they believe in) - as a matter of fact, this year is year 5765 according to the Jewish calendar.
Mind you though, that because the Jews believe the world itself was created 5765 years ago, obviously they also believe nothing happened before that.
Different civilization, different concepts of history and time.
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The Romans started counting since the foundation of Rome (753 BC), which was year 1, thus everything that happened before that was treated just like everything that happened before the birth of jesus is in our times. So this year should be year 2758 according to the Roman calendar.
The Jews had and still have their own count starting from the creation of the world (as they believe in) - as a matter of fact, this year is year 5765 according to the Jewish calendar.
Mind you though, that because the Jews believe the world itself was created 5765 years ago, obviously they also believe nothing happened before that.
Different civilization, different concepts of history and time.
[right][snapback]672741[/snapback][/right]
The romans are the reason that we celebrate New Years on Jan 1st,
It used to be in march til they came along and changed it.
nasty gaul thumping otters nose eating tradition spoiling ancient italians
Didn't they change it because they wanted someone to lead the next attack in the Punic Wars, but he couldn't be appointed until the new year. Bring new year forward and problem solved. Or is that just a myth?
QUOTE(Essan @ Jun 13 2005, 03:06 PM)
Didn't they change it because they wanted someone to lead the next attack in the Punic Wars, but he couldn't be appointed until the new year. Bring new year forward and problem solved. Or is that just a myth?
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No
thats the truth
"nasty gaul thumping otters nose eating tradition spoiling ancient italians "
They didn't care much for traditional religious festivals cos as you know they adopted Christianity shortly after.
Can't remember the name of the General they appointed to lead the praetorian guard at the time either
???
Tiberius?
sucha good question... this kinda refers to the topic.. does time exsist in a way, becuase your asking how they told time, it seems that if they told it it did exsist... but they told time by making objects and having the sun reflect off it differnetly, if you know where im comming from.
During the punic wars there was no praetorian guard at all, since praetorians became the emperor's elite guard in 27 B.C. Before that date, praetorians were not an autonomous military corps, but were instead the praetor's guard (which was one of the highest charges during the republic period). I think the general was Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator, however. I think however it was Caesar who reformed the roman calendar.
Hail Caesar!
yes every culture has its own timeline pre Christ. Islam, Buddishm just to name a few.
QUOTE(nou @ Jun 14 2005, 05:05 PM)
yes every culture has its own timeline pre Christ. Islam, Buddishm just to name a few.
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The Sumerian calender goes back to 240,000 bce
by their calender we'd be in the year 242,005 now
And, in the Chinese calender, it is currently the year 4702.
So, I was born in the year 241, 976, going by the Sumerian calendar.
QUOTE(Atlantis Rises @ Jun 14 2005, 07:18 PM)
So, I was born in the year 241, 976, going by the Sumerian calendar.
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This sounds like you just recalled a past life time
cool
anyone like the mayan calendar? 
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