The history of the English language By jazminedrommond 400 The start of old English Period: 701 to 1100 Suspected date of Beowulf's writing Period: 1066 to 1071 The Norman invasion 1392 Chaucer's Canterbury tales 1436 the invention of the printing press 1492 The discovery of North America 1623 the publication of Shakespeare's first folio Period: 1775 to 1783 The American Revolution