English Language Timeline

By SawyerCrapo
  • Period: 400 to 1100

    Old English Era

  • 529

    The Code of Civil Law

    Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I published these legal writings.
  • Beowulf
    700

    Beowulf

    A heroic poem, considered to be the greatest achievement of Old English writing.
  • Alfred Becomes King of Wessex
    871

    Alfred Becomes King of Wessex

    He is known to have instigate the translation of numerous Latin works to English.
  • The Norman Invasion
    1066

    The Norman Invasion

    William, the Duke of Normandy, lead the Norman conquest to conquer England. He did so successfully.
  • Period: 1100 to 1500

    Middle English Era

  • The Great Vowel Shift
    1350

    The Great Vowel Shift

    Started around 1350, due to the increase of books and learning. More words were being used and the pronunciation of these new and old words changed as time went on.
  • Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
    1387

    Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

    An impressive 24 stories over 17,000 lines long, written by Geoffrey Chaucer.
  • Invention of the Printing Press
    1440

    Invention of the Printing Press

    Gutenberg is rumored to have invented the moveable type. His printing press allowed books to be made quicker. With this press he copied 200 bibles.
  • The Discovery of the Americas
    1492

    The Discovery of the Americas

    Christopher Columbus discovered a new world.
  • Period: 1500 to

    Modern English Era

  • Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio

    Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio

    Shakespeare's First Folio is a collection of 36 of his works compiled into a book.
  • The American Revolution

    The American Revolution

    The American Revolution started in Lexington and Concord with a famous shot known as "The shot heard around the world".
  • World War II

    World War II

    The Second World War lasted six years and forced countries to work together to conquer a common enemy/enemies.