Wikipedia:Decade merges

This is an essay.

It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article or a Wikipedia policy, as it has not been reviewed by the community.

Shortcut

WP:DECMERWP:DECMER

This page in a nutshell: Individual years of classical antiquity and earlier are usually not notable enough for their own article, and should be merged into their respective decade's page, rather than merely being transcluded.

A popular quote often misattributed to Vladimir Lenin is that "there are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen." The primary meaning of this quote, particularly in the modern period, is that some years in history had fewer notable things going on than others. However, as we go further back in history, we consider some years to have had fewer notable things going on simply because we know/care less about them. How many events, that we could consider to be of historical consequence, happened in 148 compared to 1948? Not many.

This is reflected on Wikipedia. Most articles of individual years in Classical antiquity and beforehand are mere stubs. These stub articles are usually transcluded into their decade's individual page, with often messy results. This issue has been discussed before, and the solution is clear: these less-than-equal years ought to be merged into their decade's respective article.

Background

What makes a year non-notable?

It's understandable that an editor may be wary about labeling an entire year as non-notable. How could we say that about a period of time as massive as 365 (or 366, or 367) days? While we probably should not decry an entire year as less "important" from a subjective stance, we can consider a year as non-notable for a number of material reasons.

The primary reason is that we simply know less about some years than others. The gift of the printing press to historiography cannot be underestimated; the modern period is overflowing with primary sources to analyze, sources that academics have studied and, by extension, have established notability for individual years. This is not necessarily the case for Classical antiquity and beforehand. We know less about events and people in that period simply because there are fewer primary sources remaining to tell us about them. There may have been as many "historical events" that occurred in 148 as in 1948, but because we know less (or nothing at all) about them, those years aren't as notable to us.

This fact makes it especially difficult to establish notability for individual years in classical antiquity and beforehand. Due to the significant lack in primary sources available to historians, it can be difficult to ascertain in what exact year a historical event took place. As such, certain types of events that can be easily placed in specific years in the modern period with dated records cannot be given the same treatment in earlier millennia, making any article for an individual year in classical antiquity and beforehand much shorter than it would be.

Even when we know plenty about an individual year, we still may not have much reason to care about it at the same level as we do about a year that came a millennium afterward. As denizens of the 21st century, we are regularly impacted and influenced by the historical events that occurred in the few centuries before us; while we can say the same for classical antiquity and beforehand, that influence is simply less immediate to us. While more events that took place in 148 may have been notable to people in 226, those events are not for us in the contemporary period. This is reflected in the fewer number of reliable secondary sources written about those years, making notability harder to argue for.

Past discussion

This phenomenon and its manifestation on Wikipedia was discussed in-depth at a June 2026 AfD concerning the AD 12 article, and whether it should be merged into the 10s article. When the proposer suggested this merge, another editor suggested that similar merges be carried out for the entire first century. The original proposer, not wanting to nominate too many articles at once, instead edited their original proposal to suggest the merge of all ten individual year articles (AD 10, AD 11, AD 12, AD 13, AD 14, AD 15, AD 16, AD 17, AD 18, and AD 19) into the 10s article. This proposal was approved without issue by five separate editors, and the discussion was closed by a sixth as "merge to 10s - all of them."

Another AfD was posted that same month concerning a possible similar merge, albeit regarding the 20s article, citing the precedent established by the prior AfD. At the advice of other editors, this AfD was quickly withdrawn as unnecessary given the previous AfD, and a bold merge was later performed.

Tips on decade merges

When going about boldly merging articles of years into articles of decades, keep in mind the following:

Remove the transclusion. Many articles of individual decades on Wikipedia are merely the contents of the articles of its ten component years transcluded into itself. This can make the article pre-merge look a little messy, as the styles and contents of the different articles can clash with and contradict one another. Before merging, it is best to remove all the transcluded material beforehand; this is easily done by removing a few lines here and there in the source text.
Keep things consistent. Make sure that the new merged decade article maintains the same system of sorting information uniformly. This usually manifests as splitting the article into "Demographics," "Events," "Births," and "Deaths" sections, with the Events section further divided based on location. The same goes for era styles; if the preexisting decade article uses the Anno Domini style, maintain that throughout the merge.
Look out for overlapping claims. Many events listed on articles of individual years in classical antiquity are left unsourced, and can be difficult to verify, especially if it contradicts other claims. For example, a figure's death can be listed on multiple articles of individual years if the exact timeline is disputed, which can lead to overlap in the final merged article. Emphasize that certain events are disputed, and add notices or delete entries entirely if needed.
Cite attribution. Per Wikipedia's licensing policy, the site requires that attribution be given to editors of the original merged article by linking its page history in the merge's edit summary. As such, merging all ten year articles into the decade article in a single edit should be avoided. Instead, perform a merge for each individual year, with each edit summary linking the respective article's original page history.

When performing such merges, it can also help to link this page in the edit summaries, to provide clarification on what the merge is for and what the precedent for it is. This makes sure that all interested editors are on the same page.

The initial AfD that sparked this effort established a clear precedent for these kinds of merges for the first century. That being said, you would not be prevented from undertaking merges involving years before or after the first century, as long as they are generally considered to be within classical antiquity. Future discussions on this topic can be added to this essay.

Merging list

Pending merges

679 BC, 678 BC, 677 BC, 676 BC, 675 BC, 674 BC, 673 BC, 672 BC, 671 BC, 670 BC → 670s BC
669 BC, 668 BC, 667 BC, 666 BC, 665 BC, 664 BC, 663 BC, 662 BC, 661 BC, 660 BC → 660s BC
659 BC, 658 BC, 657 BC, 656 BC, 655 BC, 654 BC, 653 BC, 652 BC, 651 BC, 650 BC → 650s BC
649 BC, 648 BC, 647 BC, 646 BC, 645 BC, 644 BC, 643 BC, 642 BC, 641 BC, 640 BC → 640s BC
639 BC, 638 BC, 637 BC, 636 BC, 635 BC, 634 BC, 633 BC, 632 BC, 631 BC, 630 BC → 630s BC
629 BC, 628 BC, 627 BC, 626 BC, 625 BC, 624 BC, 623 BC, 622 BC, 621 BC, 620 BC → 620s BC
619 BC, 618 BC, 617 BC, 616 BC, 615 BC, 614 BC, 613 BC, 612 BC, 611 BC, 610 BC → 610s BC
609 BC, 608 BC, 607 BC, 606 BC, 605 BC, 604 BC, 603 BC, 602 BC, 601 BC, 600 BC → 600s BC
579 BC, 578 BC, 577 BC, 576 BC, 575 BC, 574 BC, 573 BC, 572 BC, 571 BC, 570 BC → 570s BC
569 BC, 568 BC, 567 BC, 566 BC, 565 BC, 564 BC, 563 BC, 562 BC, 561 BC, 560 BC → 560s BC
559 BC, 558 BC, 557 BC, 556 BC, 555 BC, 554 BC, 553 BC, 552 BC, 551 BC, 550 BC → 550s BC
549 BC, 548 BC, 547 BC, 546 BC, 545 BC, 544 BC, 543 BC, 542 BC, 541 BC, 540 BC → 540s BC
539 BC, 538 BC, 537 BC, 536 BC, 535 BC, 534 BC, 533 BC, 532 BC, 531 BC, 530 BC → 530s BC
529 BC, 528 BC, 527 BC, 526 BC, 525 BC, 524 BC, 523 BC, 522 BC, 521 BC, 520 BC → 520s BC
519 BC, 518 BC, 517 BC, 516 BC, 515 BC, 514 BC, 513 BC, 512 BC, 511 BC, 510 BC → 510s BC
509 BC, 508 BC, 507 BC, 506 BC, 505 BC, 504 BC, 503 BC, 502 BC, 501 BC, 500 BC → 500s BC
499 BC, 498 BC, 497 BC, 496 BC, 495 BC, 494 BC, 493 BC, 492 BC, 491 BC, 490 BC → 490s BC
489 BC, 488 BC, 487 BC, 486 BC, 485 BC, 484 BC, 483 BC, 482 BC, 481 BC, 480 BC → 480s BC
479 BC, 478 BC, 477 BC, 476 BC, 475 BC, 474 BC, 473 BC, 472 BC, 471 BC, 470 BC → 470s BC
469 BC, 468 BC, 467 BC, 466 BC, 465 BC, 464 BC, 463 BC, 462 BC, 461 BC, 460 BC → 460s BC
459 BC, 458 BC, 457 BC, 456 BC, 455 BC, 454 BC, 453 BC, 452 BC, 451 BC, 450 BC → 450s BC
449 BC, 448 BC, 447 BC, 446 BC, 445 BC, 444 BC, 443 BC, 442 BC, 441 BC, 440 BC → 440s BC
439 BC, 438 BC, 437 BC, 436 BC, 435 BC, 434 BC, 433 BC, 432 BC, 431 BC, 430 BC → 430s BC
429 BC, 428 BC, 427 BC, 426 BC, 425 BC, 424 BC, 423 BC, 422 BC, 421 BC, 420 BC → 420s BC
419 BC, 418 BC, 417 BC, 416 BC, 415 BC, 414 BC, 413 BC, 412 BC, 411 BC, 410 BC → 410s BC
409 BC, 408 BC, 407 BC, 406 BC, 405 BC, 404 BC, 403 BC, 402 BC, 401 BC, 400 BC → 400s BC
399 BC, 398 BC, 397 BC, 396 BC, 395 BC, 394 BC, 393 BC, 392 BC, 391 BC, 390 BC → 390s BC
389 BC, 388 BC, 387 BC, 386 BC, 385 BC, 384 BC, 383 BC, 382 BC, 381 BC, 380 BC → 380s BC
379 BC, 378 BC, 377 BC, 376 BC, 375 BC, 374 BC, 373 BC, 372 BC, 371 BC, 370 BC → 370s BC
369 BC, 368 BC, 367 BC, 366 BC, 365 BC, 364 BC, 363 BC, 362 BC, 361 BC, 360 BC → 360s BC
359 BC, 358 BC, 357 BC, 356 BC, 355 BC, 354 BC, 353 BC, 352 BC, 351 BC, 350 BC → 350s BC
349 BC, 348 BC, 347 BC, 346 BC, 345 BC, 344 BC, 343 BC, 342 BC, 341 BC, 340 BC → 340s BC
339 BC, 338 BC, 337 BC, 336 BC, 335 BC, 334 BC, 333 BC, 332 BC, 331 BC, 330 BC → 330s BC
329 BC, 328 BC, 327 BC, 326 BC, 325 BC, 324 BC, 323 BC, 322 BC, 321 BC, 320 BC → 320s BC
319 BC, 318 BC, 317 BC, 316 BC, 315 BC, 314 BC, 313 BC, 312 BC, 311 BC, 310 BC → 310s BC
309 BC, 308 BC, 307 BC, 306 BC, 305 BC, 304 BC, 303 BC, 302 BC, 301 BC, 300 BC → 300s BC
299 BC, 298 BC, 297 BC, 296 BC, 295 BC, 294 BC, 293 BC, 292 BC, 291 BC, 290 BC → 290s BC
289 BC, 288 BC, 287 BC, 286 BC, 285 BC, 284 BC, 283 BC, 282 BC, 281 BC, 280 BC → 280s BC
279 BC, 278 BC, 277 BC, 276 BC, 275 BC, 274 BC, 273 BC, 272 BC, 271 BC, 270 BC → 270s BC
269 BC, 268 BC, 267 BC, 266 BC, 265 BC, 264 BC, 263 BC, 262 BC, 261 BC, 260 BC → 260s BC
259 BC, 258 BC, 257 BC, 256 BC, 255 BC, 254 BC, 253 BC, 252 BC, 251 BC, 250 BC → 250s BC
249 BC, 248 BC, 247 BC, 246 BC, 245 BC, 244 BC, 243 BC, 242 BC, 241 BC, 240 BC → 240s BC
239 BC, 238 BC, 237 BC, 236 BC, 235 BC, 234 BC, 233 BC, 232 BC, 231 BC, 230 BC → 230s BC
229 BC, 228 BC, 227 BC, 226 BC, 225 BC, 224 BC, 223 BC, 222 BC, 221 BC, 220 BC → 220s BC
219 BC, 218 BC, 217 BC, 216 BC, 215 BC, 214 BC, 213 BC, 212 BC, 211 BC, 210 BC → 210s BC
209 BC, 208 BC, 207 BC, 206 BC, 205 BC, 204 BC, 203 BC, 202 BC, 201 BC, 200 BC → 200s BC
199 BC, 198 BC, 197 BC, 196 BC, 195 BC, 194 BC, 193 BC, 192 BC, 191 BC, 190 BC → 190s BC
189 BC, 188 BC, 187 BC, 186 BC, 185 BC, 184 BC, 183 BC, 182 BC, 181 BC, 180 BC → 180s BC
179 BC, 178 BC, 177 BC, 176 BC, 175 BC, 174 BC, 173 BC, 172 BC, 171 BC, 170 BC → 170s BC
169 BC, 168 BC, 167 BC, 166 BC, 165 BC, 164 BC, 163 BC, 162 BC, 161 BC, 160 BC → 160s BC
159 BC, 158 BC, 157 BC, 156 BC, 155 BC, 154 BC, 153 BC, 152 BC, 151 BC, 150 BC → 150s BC
149 BC, 148 BC, 147 BC, 146 BC, 145 BC, 144 BC, 143 BC, 142 BC, 141 BC, 140 BC → 140s BC
139 BC, 138 BC, 137 BC, 136 BC, 135 BC, 134 BC, 133 BC, 132 BC, 131 BC, 130 BC → 130s BC
129 BC, 128 BC, 127 BC, 126 BC, 125 BC, 124 BC, 123 BC, 122 BC, 121 BC, 120 BC → 120s BC
119 BC, 118 BC, 117 BC, 116 BC, 115 BC, 114 BC, 113 BC, 112 BC, 111 BC, 110 BC → 110s BC
109 BC, 108 BC, 107 BC, 106 BC, 105 BC, 104 BC, 103 BC, 102 BC, 101 BC, 100 BC → 100s BC
99 BC, 98 BC, 97 BC, 96 BC, 95 BC, 94 BC, 93 BC, 92 BC, 91 BC, 90 BC → 90s BC
89 BC, 88 BC, 87 BC, 86 BC, 85 BC, 84 BC, 83 BC, 82 BC, 81 BC, 80 BC → 80s BC
79 BC, 78 BC, 77 BC, 76 BC, 75 BC, 74 BC, 73 BC, 72 BC, 71 BC, 70 BC → 70s BC
69 BC, 68 BC, 67 BC, 66 BC, 65 BC, 64 BC, 63 BC, 62 BC, 61 BC, 60 BC → 60s BC
59 BC, 58 BC, 57 BC, 56 BC, 55 BC, 54 BC, 53 BC, 52 BC, 51 BC, 50 BC → 50s BC
49 BC, 48 BC, 47 BC, 46 BC, 45 BC, 44 BC, 43 BC, 42 BC, 41 BC, 40 BC → 40s BC
39 BC, 38 BC, 37 BC, 36 BC, 35 BC, 34 BC, 33 BC, 32 BC, 31 BC, 30 BC → 30s BC
29 BC, 28 BC, 27 BC, 26 BC, 25 BC, 24 BC, 23 BC, 22 BC, 21 BC, 20 BC → 20s BC
19 BC, 18 BC, 17 BC, 16 BC, 15 BC, 14 BC, 13 BC, 12 BC, 11 BC, 10 BC → 10s BC
AD 60, AD 61, AD 62, AD 63, AD 64, AD 65, AD 66, AD 67, AD 68, AD 69 → 60s
AD 70, AD 71, AD 72, AD 73, AD 74, AD 75, AD 76, AD 77, AD 78, AD 79 → 70s
AD 80, AD 81, AD 82, AD 83, AD 84, AD 85, AD 86, AD 87, AD 88, AD 89 → 80s
AD 90, AD 91, AD 92, AD 93, AD 94, AD 95, AD 96, AD 97, AD 98, AD 99 → 90s
AD 100, AD 101, AD 102, AD 103, AD 104, AD 105, AD 106, AD 107, AD 108, AD 109 → 100s
AD 110, AD 111, AD 112, AD 113, AD 114, AD 115, AD 116, AD 117, AD 118, AD 119 → 110s
AD 120, AD 121, AD 122, AD 123, AD 124, AD 125, AD 126, AD 127, AD 128, AD 129 → 120s
AD 130, AD 131, AD 132, AD 133, AD 134, AD 135, AD 136, AD 137, AD 138, AD 139 → 130s
AD 140, AD 141, AD 142, AD 143, AD 144, AD 145, AD 146, AD 147, AD 148, AD 149 → 140s
AD 150, AD 151, AD 152, AD 153, AD 154, AD 155, AD 156, AD 157, AD 158, AD 159 → 150s
AD 160, AD 161, AD 162, AD 163, AD 164, AD 165, AD 166, AD 167, AD 168, AD 169 → 160s
AD 170, AD 171, AD 172, AD 173, AD 174, AD 175, AD 176, AD 177, AD 178, AD 179 → 170s
AD 180, AD 181, AD 182, AD 183, AD 184, AD 185, AD 186, AD 187, AD 188, AD 189 → 180s
AD 190, AD 191, AD 192, AD 193, AD 194, AD 195, AD 196, AD 197, AD 198, AD 199 → 190s
AD 200, AD 201, AD 202, AD 203, AD 204, AD 205, AD 206, AD 207, AD 208, AD 209 → 200s
AD 210, AD 211, AD 212, AD 213, AD 214, AD 215, AD 216, AD 217, AD 218, AD 219 → 210s
AD 220, AD 221, AD 222, AD 223, AD 224, AD 225, AD 226, AD 227, AD 228, AD 229 → 220s
AD 230, AD 231, AD 232, AD 233, AD 234, AD 235, AD 236, AD 237, AD 238, AD 239 → 230s
AD 240, AD 241, AD 242, AD 243, AD 244, AD 245, AD 246, AD 247, AD 248, AD 249 → 240s
AD 250, AD 251, AD 252, AD 253, AD 254, AD 255, AD 256, AD 257, AD 258, AD 259 → 250s
AD 260, AD 261, AD 262, AD 263, AD 264, AD 265, AD 266, AD 267, AD 268, AD 269 → 260s
AD 270, AD 271, AD 272, AD 273, AD 274, AD 275, AD 276, AD 277, AD 278, AD 279 → 270s
AD 280, AD 281, AD 282, AD 283, AD 284, AD 285, AD 286, AD 287, AD 288, AD 289 → 280s
AD 290, AD 291, AD 292, AD 293, AD 294, AD 295, AD 296, AD 297, AD 298, AD 299 → 290s
AD 300, AD 301, AD 302, AD 303, AD 304, AD 305, AD 306, AD 307, AD 308, AD 309 → 300s
AD 310, AD 311, AD 312, AD 313, AD 314, AD 315, AD 316, AD 317, AD 318, AD 319 → 310s
AD 320, AD 321, AD 322, AD 323, AD 324, AD 325, AD 326, AD 327, AD 328, AD 329 → 320s
AD 330, AD 331, AD 332, AD 333, AD 334, AD 335, AD 336, AD 337, AD 338, AD 339 → 330s
AD 340, AD 341, AD 342, AD 343, AD 344, AD 345, AD 346, AD 347, AD 348, AD 349 → 340s
AD 350, AD 351, AD 352, AD 353, AD 354, AD 355, AD 356, AD 357, AD 358, AD 359 → 350s
AD 360, AD 361, AD 362, AD 363, AD 364, AD 365, AD 366, AD 367, AD 368, AD 369 → 360s
AD 370, AD 371, AD 372, AD 373, AD 374, AD 375, AD 376, AD 377, AD 378, AD 379 → 370s
AD 380, AD 381, AD 382, AD 383, AD 384, AD 385, AD 386, AD 387, AD 388, AD 389 → 380s
AD 390, AD 391, AD 392, AD 393, AD 394, AD 395, AD 396, AD 397, AD 398, AD 399 → 390s
AD 400, AD 401, AD 402, AD 403, AD 404, AD 405, AD 406, AD 407, AD 408, AD 409 → 400s
AD 410, AD 411, AD 412, AD 413, AD 414, AD 415, AD 416, AD 417, AD 418, AD 419 → 410s
AD 420, AD 421, AD 422, AD 423, AD 424, AD 425, AD 426, AD 427, AD 428, AD 429 → 420s
AD 430, AD 431, AD 432, AD 433, AD 434, AD 435, AD 436, AD 437, AD 438, AD 439 → 430s
AD 440, AD 441, AD 442, AD 443, AD 444, AD 445, AD 446, AD 447, AD 448, AD 449 → 440s
AD 450, AD 451, AD 452, AD 453, AD 454, AD 455, AD 456, AD 457, AD 458, AD 459 → 450s
AD 460, AD 461, AD 462, AD 463, AD 464, AD 465, AD 466, AD 467, AD 468, AD 469 → 460s
AD 470, AD 471, AD 472, AD 473, AD 474, AD 475, AD 476, AD 477, AD 478, AD 479 → 470s
AD 480, AD 481, AD 482, AD 483, AD 484, AD 485, AD 486, AD 487, AD 488, AD 489 → 480s
AD 490, AD 491, AD 492, AD 493, AD 494, AD 495, AD 496, AD 497, AD 498, AD 499 → 490s

Completed merges

599 BC, 598 BC, 597 BC, 596 BC, 595 BC, 594 BC, 593 BC, 592 BC, 591 BC, 590 BC → 590s BC
589 BC, 588 BC, 587 BC, 586 BC, 585 BC, 584 BC, 583 BC, 582 BC, 581 BC, 580 BC → 580s BC
9 BC, 8 BC, 7 BC, 6 BC, 5 BC, 4 BC, 3 BC, 2 BC, 1 BC → 0s BC
AD 1, AD 2, AD 3, AD 4, AD 5, AD 6, AD 7, AD 8, AD 9 → 0s
AD 10, AD 11, AD 12, AD 13, AD 14, AD 15, AD 16, AD 17, AD 18, AD 19 → 10s
AD 20, AD 21, AD 22, AD 23, AD 24, AD 25, AD 26, AD 27, AD 28, AD 29 → 20s
AD 30, AD 31, AD 32, AD 33, AD 34, AD 35, AD 36, AD 37, AD 38, AD 39 → 30s
AD 40, AD 41, AD 42, AD 43, AD 44, AD 45, AD 46, AD 47, AD 48, AD 49 → 40s
AD 50, AD 51, AD 52, AD 53, AD 54, AD 55, AD 56, AD 57, AD 58, AD 59 → 50s