Final answer:
BC (Before Christ) or BCE (Before Common Era) refers to the time period of recorded history prior to the birth of Jesus Christ. This notation system is used in many Western countries. The dates in this period are determined through archaeological evidence, historical writings and the study of ancient cultures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The time period that refers to recorded history prior to the birth of Jesus Christ is referred to as BC (Before Christ) or BCE (Before Common Era). This notation system is used to date events in many Western countries. The term 'Before Christ' or 'Before Common Era' is used to label or number years in the Gregorian and Julian calendars. For instance, 200 BC or 200 BCE means 200 years before the estimated year of Christ's birth.
The Gregorian calendar, which is the most widely used today, was not introduced until AD 1582, which is well after the historical period referred to as BC or BCE. Hence, historians determine BC dates through various methods, such as archaeological evidence, historical writings and the study of ancient cultures.
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