On the Usage of “Before Christ (BC)”, “Anno Domini (AD)” and “Before Present (BP)” in Social Science

Before modern historiographic methods were accepted by the academicians, European social scientists prefer to give a specific date about the past mostly refer the resurrection date of Jesus Christ (BC/AD). Whereas Middle Eastern historians, whom wanted to choose a different religious reference agreed on Hz. Muhammad’s hijrat. So researchers are directly dependent on calendar systems for dating.The calendars of Muslim countries differ slightly during in the Middle and the Modern Ages. In Iran and Afghanistan, for instance, with a tradition from the Great Seljukid Empire the beginning of the calendar is based on the Hijrat of the prophet but annual cycle is based on the solar circle. Even the Ottoman Empire, used Hijri calendar at the beginning, but then Rumi calendar had to be accepted. However, Turks in Anatolia converted to Gregorian practice. That’s why, we have to make some adjustments when to mention the works of Ottomans who use the Hijri calendar (based on lunar).Whether we use the Hijri calendar by calibrating it or our dating’s are extracted directly from Gregorian calendar, a new expression has been introduced to scientific world: BP (Before Present). It is derived from inter-discipliner studies. Scientists as physicist or biologist who interested in radiology, tend to use this expression.The study questions how to use these statements in social science