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The time of the earliest known inscriptions, or writings, of Old English Language. Old English was commonly spoken around until the 1100's.
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English becomes the language of the lower classes and writers write with French more often.
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During this time, the earliest, surviving, manuscripts of Middle English existed.
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English replaced Latin as the language of instructions used in most schools.
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French is replaced with English as the language of law. English is also used in Parliament for the first time. More and more authors are writing in English.
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The Great Vowel Shift begins at this time and the alphabet becomes confusing.
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William Caxton establishes the first English printing press.
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By the time of William Shakespeare, the language had become clearly recognizable as Modern English.
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Shakespeare is born.
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Shakespeare dies; he was recognized then as a genius of the English Language.
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First daily English-Language newspaper, The Daily Courant, is published in London.
