-
Period: 450 to 1150
Old English
"Old English is the name given to the earliest recorded stage of the English language, up to approximately 1150AD"
https://www.oed.com/discover/old-english-an-overview/?tl=true -
597
Christian Mission to England
Introduced the Latin alphabet and Christian texts to Anglo-Saxons
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/St-Augustine-Christianity-England/ -
731
Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People
Early history written in Latin, influencing the English Culture
https://archive.org/details/ecclesiasticalhi00bede_1 -
800
Beowulf is written
Earliest Known pieces in Old English
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Beowulf -
1066
Norman Invasion
French becomes dominant in the government causing a massive language influence
https://www.britannica.com/event/Norman-Conquest -
Period: 1150 to 1500
Middle English
"The next wave of innovation in English vocabulary came with the revival of classical scholarship known as the Renaissance"
https://www.thehistoryofenglish.com/middle-english#:~:text=The%20next%20wave%20of%20innovation%20in%20English%20vocabulary -
1215
Magna Carta Signed
Laid groundwork for constitutional law in English
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Magna-Carta -
1348
Black Death reaches England
Massive demographic changes, social changes and language changes
https://historiesandcastles.com/history/the-black-death/the-black-death-in-medieval-england/?v=7885444af42e -
1387
Chaucer writes "The canterbury Tales"
Showcases Middle English dialects and storytelling
https://www.worldhistory.org/Canterbury_Tales/ -
1476
Printing press introduced to England by William Caxton
Standardizes English spelling and grammar
https://www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/william-caxton/ -
1492
Discovery of the Americas
Expansion of English influence, causing spread to other colonies
https://exploration.marinersmuseum.org/subject/christopher-columbus/ -
Period: 1500 to
Modern English
Characterized by the great vowel shift in England, which began in the late 14th century
https://www.thehistoryofenglish.com/early-modern-english -
Shakespeare's First Folio Published
preserved many of his plays, major influence on English
https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/shakespeares-works/shakespeares-first-folio/?gad_source=1 -
Industrial Revolution begins
Introduces many technical and scientific terms into English -
American Revolution begins
split between British and American English begins
https://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/revwar-75.htm -
World War II
English becomes the dominant global language -
Launch of sputnik
Cold war and space race accelerate English in global science tech
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