Abbr. in ancient dates

Sure, I’d be happy to help! The abbreviation “BCE” stands for “Before the Common Era.” It is used as a way of indicating dates that occurred prior to the year 1 CE (or “AD,” which stands for “Anno Domini,” meaning “in the year of Our Lord”). This system of dating is often preferred by historians and others who wish to avoid the religious connotations of the AD/BC dating system (where “BC” stands for “Before Christ” and “AD” stands for “Anno Domini,” or “in the year of our Lord” in Latin). BCE and CE simply provide a secular, non-religious alternative. So, for example, the year 100 BCE refers to 100 years before the year 1 CE, which is a commonly accepted marker for the beginning of the Common Era. BCE is typically used in conjunction with CE (or AD) to provide a full range of dating options for historical events and figures. I hope that helps explain the meaning of “BCE” as an abbreviation in ancient dates. Let me know if you have any further questions!