Quote:
Originally posted by Jeff Waegelin
Now, the question: how does anyone really know that they "started with year one?" It makes logical sense to start with one, not zero, but can anyone really know for sure that they did?
|
Well, I'm still looking for an authoritative clear unambiguous historical statement regarding this. It seems to be common knowledge, and everyone seems to assume it. But having said that, here are a few links that bolster my case:
Try this
Julian Date Converter. You will note that if you try putting zero into the year field, it says "There is no year 0 in the Julian system!" Also note that this site appears to have some authority, since it belongs to the U.S. Naval Observatory which is the official timekeeper of the United States Government.
I don't know what Claus Tøndering's credentials are, but his
Calendar FAQ seems to be quite comprehensive. He also clearly states
"There is no year 0" He does note however, that
"... astronomers frequently use another way of numbering the years BC. Instead of 1 BC they use 0, instead of 2 BC they use -1, instead of 3 BC they use -2, etc." (You have to remember though, that those astronomers have their heads in the clouds, and ignore customary civil conventions when it suits their needs.
)