What, Where, How and When? — Social Studies STD 6 — Question

1. BC.

1. The letters BC means Before Christ.
2. Dates are generally counted (i.e., the day, the month and the years) or assigned to the birth of Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity.
3. So 2000 BC means 2000 years before the birth of Jesus Christ.
4. All dates before the birth of Jesus Christ are counted backwards and generally have the letter BC (Before Christ) added on.

2. AD.

1. We sometimes find AD before dates. This stands for two Latin words, “Anno Domini”, and mean in the year of the lord (i.e., Jesus Christ).
2. For example 2005 can also be written as AD 2005.

3. CE.

Sometimes, CE is used instead of AD. The letters CE stand for ‘Common Era’.

4. BCE.

1. Sometimes BCE is used instead of BC. The letters BCE stand for ‘Before Common Era’.
2. We use these terms because the Christian Era is now used in the most countries of the world.

5. Script.

1. Way or style of writing of a language is called a script. It consists of letters or signs.
2. For example, ‘Devnagri’ is script of Hindi.

6. Language.

When we read what is written, or speak, we use a language. It is a media of expression through speech or through writing.

7. Decipherment.

Languages which are used, as well as ways of writing (scripts) have changed since then. So how do scholars understand what was written? This can be done through a process known as decipherment.