THE MIDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD

By Andreit@Aguilar
  • 1066

    THE NORMANS CONQUEST

    THE NORMANS CONQUEST
    The Normans conquered England, replacing the native English nobility with Anglo-Normans and introducing Norman French as the language of government in England
  • 1204

    THE LOSS OF NORMANDY

    THE LOSS OF NORMANDY
    King John lost Normandy to the French, beginning the loosening of ties between England and the Continent
  • 1258

    THE FIRST ENGLISH-LANGUAGE ROYAL PROCLAMATION

    THE FIRST ENGLISH-LANGUAGE ROYAL PROCLAMATION
    King Henry III issued the first English-language royal proclamation
    since the Conquest, having been forced by his barons to accept the Provisions of Oxford, establishing a Privy Council to oversee the administration of the government, so beginning the growth of the English constitution and parliament
  • 1337

    THE HUNDRED YEARS´ WAR

    THE HUNDRED YEARS´ WAR
    It began in 1337 and lasted until 1453. It saw England and France bitter enemies in a long, drawn-out conflict that gave the deathblow to the already moribund use of French in England. It promoted English nationalism.
  • 1348

    THE BLACK DEATH (1348-1350)

    THE BLACK DEATH (1348-1350)
    It killed an estimated one-third of England’s population and continued to plague the country for much of the rest of the century
  • 1362

    THE STATUTE OF PLEADINGS

    THE STATUTE OF PLEADINGS
    The Statute of Pleadings was enacted, requiring all court proceedings to be conducted in English. All the official documents should be recorded in Latin. It was written in French.
  • 1381

    THE PEASANTS´REVOLT

    THE PEASANTS´REVOLT
    It was led by Wat Tyler and it was the first rebellion of working-class people against their exploitation. Although it failed in most of its
    immediate aims, it marks the beginning of popular protest.
  • 1384

    THE WYCLIFFITE BIBLE

    THE WYCLIFFITE BIBLE
    John Wycliffe died, having promoted the first complete translation of
    scripture into the English language (the Wycliffite Bible)
  • 1399

    Henry IV

    Henry IV
    Public documents and records began to be written in English, and Henry IV used English to claim the throne.
  • 1400

    ENGLISH AS THE LANGUAGE OF ENGLAND IN LITERARY

    ENGLISH AS THE LANGUAGE OF ENGLAND IN LITERARY
    Geoffrey Chaucer died, having produced a highly influential body of
    English poetry
  • 1430

    THE CHANCERY OFFICE

    THE CHANCERY OFFICE
    The Chancery office (where legal records were deposited) began recordkeeping in a form of East Midland English, which became the written standard of English
  • 1476

    PRINTING IN ENGLAND

    PRINTING IN ENGLAND
    William Caxton brought printing to England, thus promoting literacy
    throughout the population
  • 1485

    TUDOR DYNASTY

    TUDOR DYNASTY
    Henry Tudor became king of England, ending thirty years of civil strife, called the War of the Roses, and introducing 118 years of the Tudor Dynasty
  • 1497

    EXPANSION OVERSEAS

    EXPANSION OVERSEAS
    John Cabot sailed to Nova Scotia, foreshadowing English territorial
    expansion overseas