"BC" is a commonly used abbreviation that stands for "Before Christ". It is used to refer to a date that is before the birth of Jesus Christ in the Gregorian calendar. In this system of dating, the year 1 BC is immediately followed by AD 1 (Anno Domini, Latin for "the year of the Lord"). The BC/AD system is widely used in historical and religious contexts, particularly in the Western world.

Example

1. The Roman Empire was established in the 8th century BC.
2. The Pyramids of Giza were built in Egypt around 2500 BC.
3. The Trojan War, as described in Homer's "Iliad", is believed to have taken place in the 12th century BC.