The History of English

By trinitym
  • Period: 400 to

    History of English

  • Period: 400 to Jan 7, 1066

    Old English

  • 450

    Old English period began

  • Ethelbert is baptized
    Jan 7, 600

    Ethelbert is baptized

    Ethelbert is the King of Kent. He is the first king to convert to Christianity.
  • Jan 7, 675

    Besmirch

    Smear as to make dirty or stain
  • Jan 7, 700

    Earliest manuscript records of Old English

  • Jan 7, 800

    Ditty

    A short sample song
  • Jan 7, 900

    Kind Alfred claims victory of Vikings

    King Alfred of Wessex (Alfred the Great) leads the Anglo-Saxons to victory over the Vikings, translates Latin works into English, and establishes the writing of prose in English. He uses the English language to foster a sense of national identity. England is divided into a kingdom ruled by the Anglo-Saxons (under Alfred) and another ruled by the Scandinavians.
  • Jan 7, 1000

    Suspected date of Beowulf writing

  • Jan 7, 1000

    Discovery of North America

  • Jan 7, 1066

    Old English period ended Middle English began

  • Jan 7, 1066

    Norman Invasion began

  • Period: Jan 7, 1066 to

    Middle English

  • Jan 7, 1150

    Date of earliest surviving text in Middle English

  • Jan 7, 1209

    The University of Cambridge formed by scholors from Oxford

  • Jan 7, 1250

    Clepe

    call, name or mention
  • Jan 7, 1350

    Deeme

    Judge , Decide, Suppose
  • Jan 7, 1387

    Chaucer's Canturbury Tales

  • Invention of Printing Press
    Jan 7, 1439

    Invention of Printing Press

  • Jan 7, 1500

    William Caxton brings firtst printing press to Westminister

    Publishes Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. Literacy rates increase significantly, and printers begin to standardize English spelling.

  • Elizabeth I begins her 45 year reign as queen of England

    The British defeat the Spanish Armada, boosting national pride and enhancing the legend of Queen Elizabeth

  • Shakespears first folio

  • American Revolution

    American Revolution

  • Modern English

  • Period: to

    Modern English

  • The Newyorker magazine is founded by Harold Ross and Jane Grant

  • First television service established by the BBC

  • Bling

    Expensive clothing and Jewelery

  • Myspace and Facebook began operating

  • Bromance

    Close but not sexual relationship between men