Chronology and historical periods

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Lesson notes

What is Chronology?

Chronology is the science of arranging events in the order they happened.
It involves determining the actual sequence of past events.
Chronology is a key part of periodization – dividing history into periods.
It is used in history, earth sciences, and the study of geological time.
Historians rely on chronometry (timekeeping) and historiography (the study of historical methods).

BC/AD and BCE/CE

BC stands for 'Before Christ' and AD for 'Anno Domini' (in the year of the Lord).
BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era) are alternative terms with the same dates as BC/AD.
There is no year zero: the year 1 BC is followed by AD 1.
The BC/AD system was devised by Dionysius Exiguus around AD 500 and later extended by Bede to include BC years.
Today, the BC/AD era is the most widespread dating system in the world.

Centuries and Decades

A century is a period of 100 years.
The 1500s are the sixteenth century (1501–1600), not the fifteenth.
To name a century, add 1 to the first two digits of the year: 1066 is in the eleventh century (10+1).
A decade is a period of 10 years, such as the 1960s (1960–1969).
Centuries and decades help historians refer to periods of time concisely.

Timelines

A timeline is a visual way to show the order of events.
Timelines can cover any period, from a single day to millions of years.
They help you see how events relate to each other in time.
When making a timeline, place events in chronological order from left to right (or top to bottom).
Timelines often use a consistent scale to represent time intervals.

Main Periods of British History

Roman Britain: AD 43–410.
Anglo-Saxon and Viking period: about 410–1066.
Medieval period: 1066–1485 (from the Norman Conquest to the Battle of Bosworth).
Tudor period: 1485–1603 (from Henry VII to Elizabeth I).
Stuart period: 1603–1714 (including the Civil War and Restoration).
Georgian period: 1714–1837 (from George I to William IV).
Victorian period: 1837–1901 (reign of Queen Victoria).
Modern period: 1901–present.

Anachronism

An anachronism is something that is out of its proper time period.
For example, a Roman soldier using a mobile phone would be an anachronism.
Anachronisms can be accidental or deliberate (e.g., in comedy).
Spotting anachronisms helps you check whether your understanding of a period is accurate.
They often reveal misunderstandings about what life was like in the past.

Dating Methods in Archaeology

Radiocarbon dating estimates the age of once-living things by measuring carbon-14.
Dendrochronology dates trees by matching growth rings to known sequences.
Dendrochronology is used to calibrate radiocarbon dates.
Archaeologists also use seriation – arranging artefacts by style to build relative chronologies.
Conclusions from a single dating method are usually unreliable; multiple methods should cross-check each other.

Synchronising Events

A key problem in chronology is synchronising events – showing they happened at the same time.
Synchronising helps relate the history of one region to another.
For example, the×Chronicon×of Eusebius (AD 325) synchronised events from nine kingdoms in parallel columns.
Historians often need to synchronise reigns of kings to compare different countries' histories.
Accurate synchronisation depends on reliable dates from each source.

Slides

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Practice questions

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1.What does the term 'chronology' mean?
Easy
- AThe science of arranging events in their order of occurrence in time
- BThe study of maps and borders
- CThe study of how governments are formed
- DThe science of classifying rocks
2.The year 1582 is in which century?
Easy
- AThe sixteenth century
- BThe fifteenth century
- CThe seventeenth century
- DThe eighteenth century
3.If an event is dated 55 BCE and another event is dated 30 BCE, which happened first?
Easy
- AThe event in 55 BCE
- BThe event in 30 BCE
- CThey happened in the same year
- DYou cannot tell from the dates
4.Which of these periods of British history came first?
Medium
- ARoman
- BTudor
- CVictorian
- DStuart
5.A historian writes that a Victorian factory owner used a smartphone to check his profits. What is wrong with this statement?
Medium
- AIt is an anachronism: smartphones did not exist in Victorian times
- BIt is a coincidence
- CIt is a primary source
- DIt is a periodization
6.Which dating system is the most widespread in the world today?
Medium
- AThe Anno Domini era
- BThe Ab Urbe condita era
- CThe Julian calendar
- DThe astronomical era
7.Which method estimates the age of trees by matching their growth rings to known year-by-year reference sequences?
Medium
- ADendrochronology
- BRadiocarbon dating
- CSeriation
- DTypology
8.Which of these is a decade?
Medium
- AThe 1960s
- BThe sixteenth century
- CThe year 1066
- DThe Stuart period

Revision notes

## Chronology and Historical Periods **Chronology** is the science of arranging events in their order of occurrence in time, such as in a timeline. It is also 'the determination of the actual temporal sequence of past events'. It is part of periodization and of the discipline of history. ### Dating systems - **BC/AD**: BC = before Christ; AD = Anno Domini (in the year of the Lord). There is no year zero. - **BCE/CE**: Before Common Era / Common Era — the same years as BC/AD, used by many today. - **Centuries**: the 1500s are the sixteenth century. So 1066 is in the eleventh century; 2024 is in the twenty-first century. - **Decades**: a period of ten years, e.g. the 1960s. - **Era**: a coherent system of numbered calendar years. **Epoch**: the date (usually a year) when an era begins. ### Timelines A timeline puts events in order along a line. It helps you see what happened before, after, and at the same time as other events. ### Main periods of British history (approximate dates) - **Roman**: 43–410 AD - **Anglo-Saxon**: 410–1066 - **Medieval**: 1066–1485 - **Tudor**: 1485–1603 - **Stuart**: 1603–1714 - **Georgian**: 1714–1837 - **Victorian**: 1837–1901 - **Modern**: 1901–present ### Anachronism An **anachronism** is something that is out of its correct time — for example, a Roman soldier wearing a wristwatch. ### Key skills - **Synchronise** events: place them at the same point in time so you can compare them. - **Periodisation**: dividing the past into named periods. - **Relative chronology**: ordering events without exact dates (e.g. using pottery styles). - **Absolute chronology**: dating events to a specific year. - **Dendrochronology**: dating trees by their growth rings. - **Radiocarbon dating**: estimating the age of formerly living things by measuring carbon-14. ### Remember - BC counts backwards; AD counts forwards. - No year zero: 1 BC is followed by AD 1. - Centuries are one ahead of the hundred: 1500s = 16th century.

Chronology: The science of arranging events in their order of occurrence in time, such as in a timeline; also 'the determination of the actual temporal sequence of past events'.
BC: Before Christ — used for years before the birth of Christ.
AD: Anno Domini (in the year of the Lord) — used for years after the birth of Christ.
BCE: Before Common Era — the same years as BC.
CE: Common Era — the same years as AD.
Century: A period of 100 years. The 1500s are the sixteenth century.
Decade: A period of 10 years.
Timeline: A line showing events in the order they happened.
Era: A coherent system of numbered calendar years.
Epoch: The date (usually a year) when an era begins.
Anachronism: Something that is out of its correct time.
Periodisation: Dividing the past into named periods.
Synchronise: To place events at the same point in time so they can be compared.
Dendrochronology: Estimating the age of trees by correlation of growth rings to known year-by-year reference sequences.
Radiocarbon dating: Estimating the age of formerly living things by measuring the proportion of carbon-14 isotope in their carbon content.

Flashcards

What is chronology?

Chronology is the science of arranging events in their order of occurrence in time, such as in a timeline or other sequence of events.

What does BC stand for?

BC stands for 'Before Christ' and refers to years before the traditional birth of Jesus.

What does AD stand for?

AD stands for 'Anno Domini', Latin for 'in the year of the Lord', and refers to years after the traditional birth of Jesus.

What do BCE and CE stand for?

BCE stands for 'Before Common Era' and CE stands for 'Common Era'. They are non-religious alternatives to BC and AD.

How do you name a century?

For years after 1 AD, the century number is one more than the hundreds digit. For example, the years 1500–1599 are the sixteenth century.

What is a decade?

A decade is a period of ten years.

What is a timeline?

A timeline is a graphical representation of a sequence of events in chronological order.

What is anachronism?

An anachronism is something that is out of its proper time, such as an object or idea that does not belong to the period being described.

What is the main period of British history from 43 AD to 410 AD?

The Roman period in Britain, from the Roman conquest in 43 AD to the departure of the Romans in 410 AD.

What is the main period of British history from 410 AD to 1066?

The Anglo-Saxon period, from the end of Roman rule to the Norman Conquest in 1066.

What is the main period of British history from 1066 to 1485?

The medieval period, from the Norman Conquest to the end of the Wars of the Roses.

What is the main period of British history from 1485 to 1603?

The Tudor period, from the accession of Henry VII to the death of Elizabeth I.

What is the main period of British history from 1603 to 1714?

The Stuart period, from the accession of James I to the death of Queen Anne.

What is the main period of British history from 1714 to 1837?

The Georgian period, from the accession of George I to the death of William IV.

What is the main period of British history from 1837 to 1901?

The Victorian period, from the accession of Queen Victoria to her death.

What is the main period of British history from 1901 to the present?

The modern period, from the death of Queen Victoria to the present day.

What is the difference between BC and BCE?

BC and BCE both refer to the same time period before the Common Era, but BCE is a secular term while BC is religious.

What is the difference between AD and CE?

AD and CE both refer to the same time period in the Common Era, but CE is a secular term while AD is religious.

What is an era?

An era is a system of numbered calendar years, such as the Christian era or the Ab Urbe condita era.

What is an epoch?

An epoch is the date (usually a year) when an era begins.

What is the Gregorian calendar?

The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most of the world today. It was introduced in 1582 to replace the Julian calendar.

What is the Julian calendar?

The Julian calendar was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC. It was used in the Christian era until 1582, when it was replaced by the Gregorian calendar.

Who was Dionysius Exiguus?

Dionysius Exiguus was a monk who, around the year 500, founded the Anno Domini era, which is the most widespread dating system today.

Who was Bede?

Bede was an English monk who, in the 8th century, extended the Anno Domini era to include all calendar years BC as well as AD.

What is dendrochronology?

Dendrochronology is a method of dating based on the analysis of tree rings, used to calibrate radiocarbon dating.

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