The History of the English Language

By abbyholley
  • 400

    Roman withdrawal from Britain

    400-436 Old English
  • Period: 400 to 436

    Roman withdrawal from Britain

    Old English
  • First page of Beowulf
    700

    First page of Beowulf

    700-1000 Old English
  • 792

    Vikings invade Britain

    Old English
  • 864

    The Danes launch full-scale invasion and occupy Northumbria

    Old English
  • Norman Conquest of England
    1066

    Norman Conquest of England

    Middle English
  • 1150

    The oldest surviving manuscripts in Middle English date from this period

    Middle English
  • 1167

    Oxford University established

    Middle English
  • 1204

    King John loses the province of Normandy to France

    Middle English
  • The Black Death Kills 1/3 of the British population.
    1349

    The Black Death Kills 1/3 of the British population.

    1349-50 Modern English
  • 1387

    The Canterbury Tales were written

    1387-1400 Modern English
  • 1440

    The Printing Press was Invented

    Modern English
  • 1492

    Christopher Columbus "discovers" America

    Modern English
  • William Shakespeare writes some of his first plays

    William Shakespeare writes some of his first plays

    Modern English

  • Samuel Johnson publishes his “Dictionary of the English Language”

    Modern English

  • American Revolution

    1765-1783 Modern Enlish
  • First edition of the “Oxford English Dictionary” is published

    First edition of the “Oxford English Dictionary” is published

    Late Modern English

  • The fifth volume of the DARE is published

    Modern English

A list shows items. A timeline shows sequence.

Use Timetoast to make dates, milestones, and turning points easier to understand in a clear visual format. Timetoast is a timeline maker for work, school, research, and stories.

Build your timeline