Legal Definitions - ab urbe condita

The Latin phrase ab urbe condita translates to "from the founding of the city." It is primarily used as a historical dating system, specifically referring to the traditional founding of Rome in 753 B.C. The abbreviation for this term is A.U.C.

When an event is dated using ab urbe condita, it signifies the number of years that have passed since Rome's establishment. This system was commonly employed by Roman historians and chroniclers to provide a consistent chronological framework for their records.

• Example 1: A modern historian researching the Punic Wars might encounter an ancient text describing a major battle as taking place in "536 A.U.C."

  Explanation: This means the battle occurred 536 years after the founding of Rome. By understanding the ab urbe condita system, the historian can convert this to the more familiar B.C. calendar, placing the event approximately in 217 B.C. (753 - 536 = 217), which corresponds to the Second Punic War.

• Example 2: In a scholarly article discussing the reign of Emperor Augustus, the author might mention that the famous Pax Romana, or Roman Peace, began around "723 A.U.C."

  Explanation: Here, the use of ab urbe condita emphasizes the historical context within the Roman timeline. "723 A.U.C." refers to 723 years after Rome's founding, which corresponds to 30 B.C. (753 - 723 = 30 B.C.), a pivotal moment marking the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Empire under Augustus.

• Example 3: A museum exhibit on Roman engineering might display a fragment of an aqueduct, with an informational plaque stating its construction date as "circa 680 A.U.C."

  Explanation: This dating method helps visitors understand the artifact's age relative to the entire span of Roman history, anchoring it to the foundational event of the city. "Circa 680 A.U.C." indicates that the aqueduct was built approximately 680 years after Rome's founding, placing its construction around 73 B.C. (753 - 680 = 73 B.C.).