The History Of The English Language By calliehend Period: 400 to 2012 The history of the English language Period: 400 to 1000 Old English 512 The first Germanic tribes arrive in Britain 580 Suspected date of Beowulf's writing 598 Romans withdraw from Britain 700 Manuscript records of Old English Words used- Beowulf, Fisc 1049 Danes attack England 1066 The Norman Invasion Period: 1100 to 1500 Middle English 1171 Henry II declares himself overlord of Ireland 1300 English becomes the dominant language of all classes Words used - Kyngdom, Temptacion 1386 Chaucer's Canterbury Tales 1440 The invention of the Printing Press 1453 The Hundred Years War 1492 The discovery of North America 1623 Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio 1765 The American Revolution Period: 1800 to 2012 Modern English 1928 The Oxford English Dictionary is published Words used- Extremely, Optional 1994 Text messaging is introduced 2009 The Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary is published
