The History of the English Language By Riley.lukasik 400 Saint Augustine of Hippo wrote Confessions, the first Western autobiography ever written Period: 400 to 2012 The History of the English Language Period: 400 to 1150 Old English 700 Suspected time of Beuwolf's writing 1066 The Norman Invasion Period: 1150 to 1500 Middle English 1300 Beginning of The Rennaisance 1387 Chaucer's Canterbury Tales 1450 Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio 1492 The discovery of North America Period: 1500 to 1800 Early Modern 1776 The American Revolution Period: 1800 to 2012 Modern English 1830 LDS Church Founding