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4000 BCE
Proto-Indo-European
The parent tongue was spoken about 5,000 years ago by nomads believed to have roamed the southeast European plains. -
401
English started...
The English language started with the arrival of the Germanic, Denmark and the Netherlands tribes who invaded Britain during the 5th century AD. -
Period: 449 to 600
Prehistoric (5th To 7th Century)
With the arrival of three Germanic tribes from the Continent: the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. Very little is documented about this era, except for some enigmatic Anglo-Saxon runes. -
Period: 600 to 900
Early Old English (7th To 10th Century)
Contains some of the earliest documented evidence of the English language, showcasing notable authors and poets like Cynewulf and Aldhelm who were leading figures in the world of Anglo-Saxon literature. -
Period: 901 to 1100
Middle English (10th To 11th Century)
Emerged after the Norman Conquest of 1066. This period ended with the consequential evolution of the English language towards Early Middle English. -
Period: 1100 to 1300
Early Middle English
The Early Middle English period began in 1066 with the Norman Conquest and was greatly influenced by French. Normanisation. -
Period: 1300 to 1500
Late Middle English
Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) between England and France meant that English was used more and more in official documents. A different dialect (East-Midlands) began to develop in London. -
1400
Chancery English standard was brought about.
Mid-1400s -
Period: 1400 to
Early Modern English (15th to mid-17th Century)
Signified change in pronunciation, vocabulary or grammar itself and also the start of the English Renaissance. -
1476
Introduction of the printing press in England
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The first English dictionary was published.
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Period: to
Late Modern English (18th to 21st century)
The Industrial Revolution and the Rise of the British Empire saw the expansion of the English language. Has many more words. -
The Oxford English Dictionary is published.
