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Examples of words:
Besmirch, erstwhile, forsooth -
Three Germanic tribes, the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, invaded Britain from Denmark and Germany. The Angles came from Englaland and spoke Englisc. See: England and English.
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The Vikings raid the Anglo-Saxons. This battle is told through an Anglo-Saxon poem, one of the only writings that remain.
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Beowulf is an epic poem, written by an unknown Anglo Saxon poet.
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William the Conqueror invaded England, bringing the French language with him. The upper class spoke French, while the lower spoke English. This brought new words to the English language once it was widespread again.
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Examples of words:
hastow, morewe, pardee -
King John signs the Magna Carta to prevent a rebellion. It limited the monarchy's power.
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The Hundred Years War occurred 1337-1453. It was England vs. France, and in the end, England retreated from France.
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During the years that the Black Plague ravaged Europe, it is estimated that 1/3 of the population died. People with the plague were covered in buboes that turned black, giving it the name "The Black Death."
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Written by Geoffrey Chaucer, it is about a group of pilgrims who come together on their journey to Canterbury and trade stories.
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Johannes Gutenberg began the invention of the printing press in 1436, and was successful by 1440. This helped make language and ideas widespread, keeping the language similar and helping concepts to grow faster.
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North America was discovered by Christopher Columbus, and word was immediately sent back to Europe. English will be the prevalent language in the New World.
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Examples of words:
afeard, counterfeit, haply -
The first permanent English settlement in the new world is established. It's located in Virginia.
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Published after he died, Shakespeare's First Folio is the first collection of his plays. In fact, 18 of his plays we would never have known about had they not been published in the First Folio.
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The American Revolution occurred from 1765-1783. The colonies rebelled against Britain and gained their independence from King George. While the basics of the language are the same, there are now slight differences between the way English is spoken in America vs. England.
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Examples of words:
Give, day, most -
Communication is modernized and made simpler when Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone.
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It defined over 400,000 words, and contained 10 volumes.
