1. How to Read a Timeline

2. What is a timeline?
A graphic representation of the passage of time as a line.
A graphic representation of the passage of time as a line.

3. Words about Time Circa – about or approximately
Decade – a period of 10 years
Century- a period of 100 years
Ancient – relating to a period long past
Modern – relating to present or recent times

4. In determining how far apart two dates on a timeline are…remember these rules!
1. When BOTH dates are in B.C. or A.D. you subtract (Same=Subtract)
2. When one date is B.C. and one date is A.D. you add (Different=Add)

5. Same=Subtract B.C. and B.C. 500 B.C. 200 B.C. 300 years apart
A.D. and A.D.
1890 A.D.
1750 A.D.
140 years apart

6. Different=Add
B.C. and A.D.
1991 A.D.
+ 300 B.C.
2291 years apart

7. Another important skill is to find out how many complete decades between two events
Decade=10 years
First you subtract or add using rules #1 and #2
Then you drop the LAST DIGIT of your total number years apart.

8. Examples 500 B.C. 200 B.C. 300 years apart
* Cross out the last digit 300, the years were 30 decades apart
1991 A.D.
300 B.C.
2291 years apart
Cross out the last digit in 2291, the years were 229 decades apart

9. Another important skill is to find out how many complete Centuries between two events
Century=100 years
First you subtract or add using rules #1 and #2
Then you drop the LAST TWO DIGITS of your total number years apart.

10. Examples 500 B.C. 200 B.C. 300 years apart
* Cross out the last two digits 300, the years were 3 centuries apart
1991 A.D.
300 B.C.
2291 years apart
Cross out the last two digits in 2291, the years were 22 centuries apart

11. One final skill… In what century did an event take place
You may have heard that we are living in the 21st century, but how was this number determined?
Year 0 A.D.-100 A.D. was the 1st century
Year 100A.D. – 200 A.D. was the 2nd century
Rules to finding this..
Cross out the last two digits of the number, count up one more ( ALWAYS ROUND UP)
Examples: 304 A.D. = 4th century
1556 A.D. = 16th century
1994 A.D. = 20th century
2011 A.D. = 21st Century

12. Now you try… 3. How many Decades separate each of the following dates?
Put these dates in order from first to last… B.C.
1980 A.D.
10 A.D.
2246 B.C
120 A.D.
3. How many Decades separate each of the following dates?
1450A.D. to 1500 A.D.
320 B.C. to 330 A.D.
1800 A.D. to 1890 A.D.
160 B.C. to 230 B.C.
170 B.C. to 1750 A.D.
2. How many years separate each of the following dates?
30 B.C. to 300 A.D.
1750 A.D. to 1900 A.D.
500 B.C. to 500 A.D.
800 B.C. to 500 A.D
430 B.C. to 2 A.D.
4. In what century are these dates?
1886
150 10
1530
2004
Bonus: Create questions for a friend and see if you can solve each others problems!

13. Now you try… 3. How many Decades separate each of the following dates?
Put these dates in order from first to last… B.C.
1650 A.D.
30 A.D.
220 B.C
2011 A.D.
3. How many Decades separate each of the following dates?
1950A.D. to 1500 A.D.
1320 B.C. to 330 A.D.
4. How many Centuries separate the following dates?
1600 B.C. to 2030 B.C.
1700 B.C. to 1750 A.D.
2. How many years separate each of the following dates?
35 B.C. to 200 A.D.
1245 A.D. to 1899 A.D.
300 B.C. to 300 A.D.
850 B.C. to 200 B.C.
2050 B.C. to 2 A.D.
5. In what century are these dates?
1852
250 37
1010
2011