Year zero

The presence or absence of year 0 is determined by convention among groups such as historians or astronomers. Neither the calendar (Julian or Gregorian) nor the era (Anno Domini or Common Era) determines that. If writers do not use the convention of their group, they must explicitly state whether or not they include a year 0 in their count of years, otherwise their historical dates will be misunderstood.

Related Topics:
Julian - Gregorian - Anno Domini - Common Era

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

No historians include a year 0 when numbering years in the current standard era. Thus, regardless of the appellation or calendar employed (Julian or Gregorian), 1 BC (or 1 BCE) always immediately precedes AD 1 (or 1 CE). Historians even refuse to use a year 0 when using negative years before our positive era, hence their −1 immediately precedes 1 (for example, V. Grumel, La chronologie (1958), page 30).

Related Topics:
BC - BCE

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The anno Domini method of numbering years was not widely used in Western Europe until the 9th century, and the 1 January to 31 December historical year was not uniform throughout Western Europe until 1752. The terms anno Domini, Dionysian era, Christian era, vulgar era, and common era were used interchangeably between the Renaissance and the 19th century, at least in Latin. But vulgar era was suppressed in English at the beginning of the twentieth century after vulgar acquired the meaning of "offensively coarse", replacing its original meaning of "common" or "ordinary". Consequently, historians regard all these eras as equal.

Related Topics:
Western Europe - 9th century - 1 January - 31 December - 1752 - Renaissance - 19th century - Latin - English - Twentieth century

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, at least two groups do include a year 0 when they number the years before these eras: astronomers and some Maya historians. In addition, some calendars of South Asia begin their counts of years with a year 0.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~