The History of the English Language Timeline

By colbyd
  • Period: 600 to 1100

    Old English

  • 637

    The earliest poem written in English

    "Caedmon's Hymn", is composed.
  • Beowulf's writing
    700

    Beowulf's writing

    Written between 700 and 750 the exact date is not known.
  • 904

    Gunpowder is used as a weapon

    For the first time in the siege of Wuchang, China
  • 1066

    The Norman Invasion

  • 1099

    The First Crucade

  • Period: 1100 to 1500

    Middle English

  • 1175

    The Toltec civilization collapses in Mexico.

  • 1206

    Genghis Khan leads the Mongol armies.

    This is one of the most catastrophic events in history killing between 30 and 60 million people.
  • 1387

    Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

  • The invention of the Printing Press
    1436

    The invention of the Printing Press

  • 1441

    First documented African slaves imported into Europe.

  • 1497

    The discovery of North America

    The year Christofer Columbas found America.
  • Period: 1500 to

    Modern English

  • 1535

    John Calvin writes The Institutes of the Christian Religion.

  • Apr 23, 1564

    William Shakespeare is Born

  • The English settle in Jamestown.

  • Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio

  • The American Revolution

    The American Revolution

    The start of the war.