Beowulf

A Brief History of the English Language

  • The Legend of Beowulf
    Jan 1, 700

    The Legend of Beowulf

    Unknown poet composes Beowulf, oldest known epic poem in English
  • Middle English
    Jan 1, 1150

    Middle English

    Middle English dialects become popular over the next three centuries. SIr Gawain and the Green Knight is created around the fourteenth century.
  • Early Modern English
    Jan 1, 1550

    Early Modern English

    Early Modern English becomes the standard form of the English Language.
  • Shakespeare writes Macbeth

    Shakespeare writes Macbeth

    Shakespeare writes Macbeth
  • Late Modern English

    Late Modern English

    The difference between Early Modern English and Late Modern English is vocabulary. Late Modern English period created more words because of the Industrial Revolution and the British Empire was claiming more countries and adopting their foreign words to the English Language.
  • You were born!

    You were born!

    You were born! Yahoo!