The History of the English Language

By kaileem
  • Period: 450 to 1150

    OLD ENGLISH ERA

    1. Bedward: heading to bed
    2. Brabble: to argue
    3. Fudgel: to give the impression that you're working
  • 455

    Earliest Old English Inscriptions

  • “Cædmon's Hymn” composed in Old English
    680

    “Cædmon's Hymn” composed in Old English

    Caedom's Hymn is the oldest recorded in Old English and is also one of the oldest reaming samples of Germanic alliterative verse.
  • Period: Jan 1, 700 to Jan 1, 1000

    Suspected date of Beowulf's writing date

    It was an Old English epic poem referred to as one of the first important work of English.
  • 793

    Viking Raids of England

    The Vikings were searching for wealth so they raided Britain and looting the for their goods and capturing people as slaves.
  • The Norman Invasion
    1066

    The Norman Invasion

    Normandy invaded England and brought the French language with them which became the primary language of the Royal Court and the high class while English was for the lower class. later on, English became a dominant language again but with French words added to it, creating the Middle English language.
  • Period: 1150 to 1450

    MIDDLE ENGLISH ERA

    Al be that: although
    Everich: every; everyone
    Nat: not
  • 1209

    Cambridge University

    Cambridge University was granted by Henry the III and founded in 1209 and is known as the second older university in the English speaking world.
  • William Langland Writes the Piers Plowman
    1370

    William Langland Writes the Piers Plowman

    Piers Plowman was a narrative poem and was written into sections called passus. The poem reflects on governments issues and the church and failed leaderships.
  • Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
    1387

    Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

    Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written in Middle English.
  • The invention of the Printing Press
    1440

    The invention of the Printing Press

    The Printing Press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg around 1440 and quickly spread globally. With mass printing, this helped stabilize the English language.
  • The Great Vowel Shift
    1450

    The Great Vowel Shift

    The Great Vowel Shift was essentially when the pronunciation of the Old English was shifting into Modern English
  • The discovery of North America
    Jun 24, 1497

    The discovery of North America

    Exploration in America began by the Vikings. In 1942, Christopher Columbus sailed west on the Nina Pinta and Santa Maria inspiring Giovanni to set sail and find out more of the New World.
  • Period: 1500 to

    MODERN ENGLISH ERA

    Tea: gossip
    Sus: short for suspect
    Chick: girl
  • Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio

    Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio

    Shakespeare's First Folio was publicized about seven years after his death and is considered as one of the most influential book written written in Early Modern English.
  • Period: to

    The American Revolution

    The American Revolution was a war against the British Congress and the 13 Colonies. The war was initiated by the Red Coats in Concord, Massachusetts
  • The United States Ends Slavery After Civil War

    The United States Ends Slavery After Civil War

    In December 1865, the 13th Amendment was established to abolish slavery but would still be allowed in the South.

  • Audiobook Invention

    Audible was established by The American Foundation which created recordings on a vinyl for the blind.
  • The Election of Barrack Obama

    The Election of Barrack Obama

    Barrack Obama was the first black president.