What was the unit for measuring years before Jesus and that stuff? Of course it wasn't "we are in 320 B.C."

Answer 1

Believe it or not, there was no universal measure for counting time. Different religions followed their own prophet's birth or some other important religious event. E.g; Jews (and they still do) were in their third millennium, Hindus in their sixth, Chinese similarly counted based on dynasties. Julius Caeser attempted to set the calender, initially based on earth's revolution. That practice, with a little modification, still holds today.

Answer 2

Most ancient calendars, were based on the lunar cycles. Of course there are other versions. The Persian was a solar calendar, while the Egyptians used a calendar based on the motion of Venus. In the case of Egypt, being close to equator, Venus can be observed throughout the sky. The length of the year varied from culture to culture. The Jewish calendar is at 5700+ years, and I believe it is a Lunar calendar

Answer 3

Time was measured as a number of years since creation.

For example, the Jews today still measure from Adam and Eve, and they would say that the year is 56?? (or is it 57??) as in "5725", for instance.

The chinese have their own way of measuring the years, as in the year of the bear, the year of the elephant, etc, but I'm not sure how that really works.

I'm guessing that other ancient empires also had their own methods, as well, but I'm not sure what they are.

But, in each case, it is a measure of time since the beginning. Some measure time since the flood, etc, etc.

Answer 4

ancient people knew what a year was and had reasonably calculated it with the julian calendar

often, the date would be measured by a certain dynasty's reign depending on which land/area you were in

Answer 5

Years were numbered in the lifetimes of the emperors. If you read the NT they state in the "blah-blah" year of the rule of Augustus.

Answer 6

even in Jesus life and a little after that there was no calendar or anything like that.. they weren't measuring years.. that's it..

Answer 7

Jewish calender says we are in year 5000 and something - don't know what they base the beginnig year on though.

Answer 8

We go by the Christian calender, obviously, there wasn't one before Christ. Most likely, they used the Jewish calender.

Answer 9

A.D. = Anno Domini

Shame! That shows my age doesnt it lol

Cheers

Answer 10

Cubits, man.