The year system?

Question

Is it 2007 everywhere in the world?

Its only really Christianity that believe Jesus was the son of God...so why would it be 2007 AD (After the death of Christ) in places that dont believe in Jesus

When did the world start using the same year system

Answer 1

Bouncer bobtail mentioned a key point -- the worldwide influence of European powers (extending later through the US), via empire and trade, included sharing this calendar with the world.

So, while it is true that there are other systems in use in various places, this European calendar is the one used for international business -- you do have to do something lik that for large scale international trade, etc. (Thus the European system is now appropriately called the "Common Era" by Jews and many others, implying that the calendar/system itself, not necessarily the belief system that fixed the starting year, is commonly used around the world.)

By the way, don't forget that is ONLY the year-count that is specifically related to Christianity. The rest -- the 12 months, their names and lengths-- is derived from the old ROMAN calendar (Indeed, we still refer to the "Julian calendar" for the annual calendar followed until the late 16th century, when a leap-day correction was made, under the direction of Pope Gregory, producing the "Gregorian Calendar")

As for when "the WORLD" starting using this same system --keeping in mind that many nations and cultures can (and do) also retain their OWN calendar for local use, that would have happened in stages as the European activity in the area increased. I suppose the final "internationalization" of it might be connected with the beginnings of the United Nations (which does, after all, need to run on a common calendar!)

Answer 2

Of course not. You need to visit some of these other regions of the world to experience foreign culture. And the world does not use the same year system. Never has, likely never will.

The Muslim calendar begins in 622 AD (the Hijira of Mohammad), not 700 something. And yes, the Christian calendar was introduced ca. 525 AD by Dionysos Exiguus under the orders of Gregory the Great. However, the calendar was off because Dionysos mis-calculated, ergo if you date your calendar by Jesus' birth, we would be between 2111-2113 AD (as Jesus was actually born 4-6 BC).

And as was noted AD doesn't mean after death, it's Anno Domini.

Answer 3

In India alone you would find numerous calendars followed. Some of the calendars of yore are no more in practice. They were lost when Buddhist and Jain influences were too strong and Astronomy and Astrology was at its lowest ebb. Then once again during the Hindu revival eras, the calendar system was revived too. But that does not mean there were no calendars during buddist era. In fact it is Buddhists who found the world's first university at Nalanda. Therefore, they had some local calendars as well.

There were other temporary calendars founded by kings and emperors in this country during their reign and was lost in time.

Muslims have their own as well.

But still this AD and BC is today a common convention everywhere and other calendars are used only for celebrating the religious festivals and lost any real significance of mentioning.

Answer 4

There are many other date systems.

The anno domini system was created in 525 in spread by various European empires.

Greenwich Mean Time began in 1847 in order to synchronise travel times with the development of rail links and is the only internation time standard.

The second most used date system is the Muslim calendar, but many tribal peoples don't bother with a calendar at all.

It should be pointed out that some christian sects use a different calendar, as well.

Answer 5

No, it's not 2007 everywhere in the world.

In the Republic of China, it is the 96th year of the Republic.

For the rest of the world - may I suggest 2007 CE.

Answer 6

Hi there.
The other guy is correct, other ethnic groups use their own.
The superior mathematics of the western system and the business/military power of the west has made ours the default for international activity, though, starting with the British empire and accelerating all through the 20th century. Similar to the reasons why English dominates as world language and the US dollar as world currency.
Cheers, Steve.

Answer 7

2007AD is just a convention , there are many calendars in use in the world . The Jews will celebrate the year 5768 on 13th September , Islam has its own calendar , so have the Baha'is , there is a different calendar in China and one for Buddhists , one for Shintoists and so on and so on .

Answer 8

It isn't 2007 everywhere. Muslim countries have their own calendar, starting from 700AD something. Israel, being a Jewish country has a much older numbering system for years, as does the world's largest nation, China. Don't be so western-christian centric.

Answer 9

AD does not stand for After the Death, but in th e Year of Our Lord in Latin. Most historians no longer use BC or AD, but BCE.

Answer 10

what question, of course yes...