History of the English Language

By brycel
  • Period: 400 to Jan 1, 1100

    Old English

    Old English was not static, and its usage covered a period of 700 years, from the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain in the 5th century to the late 11th century, some time after the Norman invasion. Examples of words used in the Old English Period: Bight: a bend or curve
    Ditty: a short simple song
    Pannikin: A small pan or cup
  • Period: 410 to 436

    Roman withdrawal from Britain

  • Mar 9, 600

    Anglo-Saxon language covers most of modern-day England

  • Mar 9, 731

    The Venerable Bede writes “The Ecclesiastical History of the English People

  • Mar 9, 1000

    Beowulf's Writing

  • Mar 9, 1066

    The Norman Invasion

  • Period: Mar 7, 1100 to Mar 7, 1550

    Middle English Time Period

    The event that began the transition from Old English to Middle English was the Norman Conquest of 1066, when William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy and, later, William I of England) invaded the island of Britain from his home base in northern France, and settled in his new acquisition along with his nobles and court. Examples of words used in this period: artow: art thou, thou art
    ilke: same
    quod: said
  • Mar 9, 1167

    Oxford University established

  • Mar 9, 1362

    English is used in English Parliament for the first time

  • Period: Mar 10, 1387 to Mar 10, 1400

    Chaucer Canterbury Tales

  • Mar 9, 1440

    The invention of the Printing Press

  • Mar 9, 1492

    The discovery of North America

  • Mar 9, 1500

    Start of English Renaissance

  • Mar 9, 1539

    The Great Bible” published

  • Period: Mar 7, 1550 to

    Modern English

    the form of the English language spoken since the Great Vowel Shift in England, which began in the late 14th century and was completed in roughly 1550. "Slang" used in Modern English Webisode:
    An episode or series created exclusively for online viewing Meh:
    When something is a little uninspiring or dull Bae:
    An affectionate term for a girlfriend or boyfriend

  • The Authorized, or King James Version, of “The Bible” is published

  • Death of William Shakespeare

  • Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio

  • Period: to

    American Revolution

  • First publication of “The Times” newspaper in London