[3dognight]

It really is more historically accurate to use BCE and CE, as the year count doesn't relate to any significant person's birth year. So, to reckon it as the start date of the common calendar or common era is not just politically correct, it's factual.

So what separates the "common era" from the period previous to that?????

[orionblamblam]

> So what separates the "common era" from the period previous to that?????

People started keeping track with a common system.

[rwfromkansas]

You could co-opt the CE and BCE designations and turn them into "Before the Christian Era" and the "Christian Era."

Common just refers to the division between ancient and modern history.

[Safetgiver]

So what separates the "common era" from the period previous to that?????....Something about dinosaurs, comets and lots of ice?

[safisoft]

So what separates the "common era" from the period previous to that

A common reckoning of year dating, which is what COMMON ERA means. Yes, we all know some ignorant monk in the Second Century said "Jesus" was born in the year "1", but since then we have learned that was impossible, and more likely between 6 and 4 BCE (Herod died in 4 BCE). So the "AD" and "BC" are an ignorant measurement of nothing.