RMD SINHGAD SCHOOL OF
ENGINEERING, PUNE
A Presentation on
Indian Knowledge Systems
Name: Aryan Jadhav
Div: B
Roll No: 24248
Content
1. BC/CE (Before Christ/Common Era) System
2. BCE/CE (Before Common Era/Common Era)
3. Islamic (Hijri) Calendar
4. Hebrew Calendar
5. Mayan Calendar
6. Hindu Calendar
BC/CE (Before Christ/Common Era) System
•BC (Before Christ): Refers to the years before the birth of Jesus Christ. For example,
500 BC means 500 years before the birth of Christ.
•CE (Common Era): Refers to the years after the birth of Christ, starting from year 1 CE.
It is used as a secular alternative to AD (Anno Domini).
Cultural Context: The BC/CE system is rooted in Christianity
and became the standard for historical chronology in Europe and
much of the Western world. It has a strong Christian religious
influence, especially in its focus on the birth of Jesus Christ as a
pivotal moment in history.
BCE/CE (Before Common
Era/Common Era)
•Similar to BC/CE: The BCE/CE system is essentially identical to BC/CE but uses "Before
Common Era" instead of "Before Christ." It's a more secular alternative, avoiding religious
references.
•Cultural Context: This system is used in academic and interfaith contexts to provide a
more inclusive way of marking time, particularly for non-Christian cultures. It is especially
popular in scholarly works.
Islamic (Hijri) Calendar
•Starting Point: The Islamic calendar starts from the year of the Hijra (622 CE), the migration of
the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina.
•System: The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, meaning it is based on the phases of the
moon rather than the solar year. Each year is 354 or 355 days long, shorter than the
Gregorian year.
•Cultural Context: This calendar is used predominantly in Islamic countries for religious and
cultural purposes, such as determining the dates of Ramadan, Eid, and Hajj.
Hebrew Calendar
•Starting Point: The Hebrew calendar traditionally starts from what is believed to be the creation
of the world, around 3761 BCE. The current Hebrew year is calculated from that point.
•System: It is a lunisolar calendar, incorporating both lunar months and a solar year, with
months that adjust to keep in line with the seasons. Leap years are added to keep the calendar
in sync with the solar year.
•Cultural Context: This calendar is primarily used by Jewish communities for religious
observance, such as determining holidays (e.g., Passover, Rosh Hashanah) and the
weekly Sabbath.
Chinese Calendar
•Starting Point: The traditional Chinese calendar is based on a lunisolar
system, and it doesn't have a single fixed starting point like the BC/CE
system. However, the traditional date for the founding of the Chinese state
is often associated with 2697 BCE, marking the start of the reign of the
Yellow Emperor.
•System: The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, with months based on the moon's cycles
and years corresponding to a 60-year cycle based on combinations of 10 celestial stems and 12
terrestrial branches (the Chinese zodiac).
Cultural Context: The Chinese calendar is used for cultural and religious
festivals (e.g., Chinese New Year), as well as for traditional astrology and
timekeeping.
Mayan Calendar
•Starting Point: The Mayan Long Count calendar begins in 3114
•BCE, a date thought to be associated with the creation of the
• world according to Mayan mythology.
•System: The Mayan calendar includes several interlocking cycles, • such as the Long Count,
Tzolk'in (260 days), and Haab' (365 days). • The Long Count is particularly significant for tracking
long-term
• time periods.
•Cultural Context: The Mayan calendar was used by ancient Mayan civilizations in Central America
for ceremonial, agricultural, and historical purposes. Its structure is highly complex, and it is
sometimes linked with predictions about world events, such as the end of a cycle in 2012.
Hindu Calendar
•Starting Point: The Hindu calendar varies regionally, but many systems start
• from the epoch of the Kali Yuga, which is considered to have begun around
•3102 BCE, according to some Hindu traditions.
•System: The Hindu calendar is lunisolar, similar to the Chinese and Hebrew
• calendars. It includes months based on the moon's cycles but also
incorporates • solar years. The calendar's structure is closely related to the
religious cycles
•of festivals and the positions of celestial bodies.
•Cultural Context: Used for religious observances, festivals (e.g., Diwali, Holi),
• and determining auspicious times (muhurta) for ceremonies and events.
