1004

1004 was a year in the 11th century, reckoned according to the Julian calendar (the dating system used in Christian Europe before the Gregorian calendar). It was a leap year that began on Friday according to the Julian calendar. This year is counted as part of what is called the Early Middle Ages in Europe.

Like many years of that century, information about 1004 comes from historical annals written by scribes in churches and royal courts. These records are incomplete and sometimes overlap in their accounts, so many events reported as occurring in 1004 were also recorded in nearby years.

How the year is reckoned

The count of 1004 is based on the Anno Domini system, developed by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century and later adopted throughout Europe. In the Islamic calendar, 1004 in the Christian era corresponds roughly to the years 394–395 in the Hijra. The exact conversion depends on the month and day in question, since the Islamic year is lunar-based and shorter than the solar year.

General political conditions

In the early 11th century, Europe was dominated by the Holy Roman Empire in the west, while the Mediterranean east was ruled by the Byzantine Empire. The Middle East and North Africa were held by the Fatimid Caliphate and the Abbasid Caliphate, whose powers varied. In East Asia, China was ruled by the Song dynasty. This is a general picture of the period and is not a list of specific events tied to the year 1004.

Uses of the number 1004

Apart from its historical meaning, 1004 is a composite number made up of four digits. It factors as 2 × 2 × 251. The term '1004' can also be used as a road number, postal code, or company name; the meaning depends on its context.