The History of the English Language Timeline By Lexi_Clxireee Period: 400 to 2000 The History of the English Language Timeline 700 Suspected date of Beowulfs writing 1000 Chaucer Canterbury Tales 1066 The Norman Invasion 1450 The Invention of the printing press 1492 The discovery of the Americas 1623 Publication of Shakespeares first folio 1775 The American Revolution 1939 World War II