What are some early mentions in history when people commonly referred to current year? For example, are there diaries or records saying “on this day of 879 year,” or “on this day of 56th year?” What are some early examples of general agreement among common people on what year it is?
This question comes up often! We have some previous answers that may be helpful:
How confident are we that the year is actually and exactly 2016? Is it possible that at some point in the last 2000 years there were any significant timekeeping mistakes? and Did people in the Middle Ages call the year "one thousand and one" or "ten oh one"? by sunagainstgold
At what point did society begin referring to the year in modern terms (2012 etc)? by u/Algernon_Asimov
Was the millennium from 999-1000 ad marked in any special way? by u/savvysioux
Did people in 999 AD celebrate the new millennium? Were there any doomsday predictions similar to Y2K? by u/haimoofauxerre