Calendar era facts for kids

A calendar era is a special way of numbering years within a calendar system. Think of it like starting a new count from a specific important event.

For example, the Gregorian calendar, which most of the world uses, counts its years using the Western Anno Domini system. This system starts counting from a specific year in history. Other Christian churches, like the Coptic Orthodox and Ethiopian Orthodox churches, have their own ways of counting years.

The exact moment, date, or year when a calendar era begins is called its epoch. There are many different calendar eras around the world, like the Saka Era used in India.

What is a Calendar Era?

A calendar era is simply the system used to number years in a calendar. Instead of just saying "this year," it gives a specific number. This helps us keep track of time over long periods. It also helps us understand when events happened in history.

Different Ways to Count Years

Different cultures and religions have created their own ways to number years. These systems often start from a very important event for that group. This could be a religious event, the start of a new kingdom, or a significant historical moment.

The Anno Domini System

The most common system today is Anno Domini, often shortened to AD. It means "in the year of the Lord" in Latin. This system is used with the Gregorian calendar. It counts years from a traditional date for the birth of Jesus Christ. Years before this point are called BC, meaning "Before Christ."

What is an Epoch?

The epoch is the starting point of any calendar era. It's the specific year, date, or even moment when the counting begins. For the Anno Domini system, the epoch is the year 1 AD. Every calendar era has its own unique epoch.

Counting Years in Ancient Times

In ancient times, people often didn't use one continuous calendar era. Instead, they counted years based on who was ruling. This made keeping track of time very different from today.

Regnal Years Explained

Many ancient civilizations used what are called regnal years. A regnal year is a year counted from when a new ruler, like a king or queen, took the throne. So, if a king ruled for 20 years, they would refer to "the 5th year of King X's reign." When a new king started, the count would reset to year 1.

Why Ancient Timelines are Tricky

Using regnal years makes it hard for historians to create clear timelines. They have to piece together information from many different lists of kings. For example, the Sumerian King List and the Babylonian Canon of Kings are ancient records. Historians use these to try and match up events across different kingdoms. It's like trying to solve a giant puzzle!

Eras in East Asia

In many parts of East Asia, like China and Korea, they also used era names based on ruling monarchs for a long time. These era names were similar to regnal years. However, most of these systems stopped being used in the 20th century.

Japan's Unique System

Japan is an exception. They still use era names based on their emperors. When a new emperor takes the throne, a new era name begins. For example, the current era in Japan is called Reiwa. This system is used alongside the Gregorian calendar in Japan.