When the last member of the Hasmonean Dynasty died in 37 B.C., Rome made Herod king of Judah.  With Roman backing, Herod (37-34 B.C.) ruled on both sides of the Jordan River.  After his death the Jewish kingdom was divided among his heirs and gradually absorbed into the Roman Empire.
B.C. is a mnemonic device that represents the phrase "before Christ."
B.C. is an acronym, which qualifies as a mnemonic device. The system has trouble identifying parts of speech like this.
( z1 device :li "B.C." :ARG0-of ( z2 memorize ) :ARG0-of ( z3 represent :ARG1 ( z4 phrase :mod ( z5 before :op ( z6 person :name ( z7 name :op "Christ" ) ) ) ) ) )