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History
I'm wondering how ancient timelines work. Like in BCE, are larger numbers older or smaller numbers. For example, did 8000 BCE come first or 1000 BCE? I'm asking this because I'm writing something about history and I don't wanna sound stupid.
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Is it any help to think of BC as the 'year zero' on the timeline? To the left of zero the numbers are effectively negative, and as such the higher the number the 'more negative' it is (just like the conventional 'number line') and thus longer ago. To the right of 'zero' the numbers increase in the usual manner. To find the time elapsed between a BCE date and required date since, we have to add the values. So 1000 BCE was 3017 years ago. 1001 BCE was 2018 years ago and 999 BCE was 2016 years ago. When we are wholly to the left of 'year zero' 1500 BCE was longer ago than 1000 BCE.
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The numbers before BC work backwards from 8000 to 1. After BC they work upwards from 1 to 2017 today. I realize it is a bit strange and I would like to explain the why of it but I'm not sure I could do so correctly so I won't try. I just know this is the way things are.
If you need real clarification I would recommend asking a member of the clergy.
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