Practice Problems
Example 1: Calculating Millenniums
Question: In which millennium does the year 2500 BCE fall? Solution: Millenniums are counted in blocks of 1,000 years starting from 1 BCE (counting backward).
- 1st Millennium BCE: 1 to 1000 BCE
- 2nd Millennium BCE: 1001 to 2000 BCE
- 3rd Millennium BCE: 2001 to 3000 BCE Answer: The year 2500 BCE falls in the 3rd Millennium BCE.
Example 2: The “No Year Zero” Rule
Question: A traveler started a journey in 5 BCE and finished in 5 CE. How many years did the journey take? Solution:
Why? Because the sequence is: 5BCE, 4BCE, 3BCE, 2BCE, 1BCE, 1CE, 2CE, 3CE, 4CE, 5CE. Counting these, we get 10 positions, but the duration across the gap is 9 years.
Example 3: Inscription Dating
Question: An inscription says it was carved in the 2nd century BCE. What is the possible range of years? Solution:
- 1st Century BCE: 1 to 100 BCE
- 2nd Century BCE: 101 to 200 BCE Answer: The range is 200 BCE to 101 BCE. (Remember, BCE counts backward!)
Tip
Quick Check: If the year is CE, move forward in time. If the year is BCE, the larger number is further in the past.