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Period: 400 to Dec 31, 1485
The Middle Ages
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476
Western Roman Empire ends.
When Romulus Augustus was forced to abdicate to the Germanic warlord Odoacer is cosidered as the fall of the great Roman empire in the West -
Jan 1, 700
Dream of the Rod
Probably wrote in the 18th century -
Jan 1, 1066
Norman Conquest
The Norman Conquest led by William I established the French-speaking ruling class in Enlgand. After years. -
Jan 1, 1337
Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War was a series of conflicts between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of France and their various allies for control of the French throne. -
Jan 1, 1348
Black Death ravages Europe
This was one of the first intances that the Black Death was in Europe. Many people in England dies because of the presence of this horrible and mortal disease. -
Jan 1, 1381
Peasants' Revolt
The Peasants' Revolt, was one of a number of popular revolts in late medieval Europe and is a major event in the history of England. People's uprising briefly took control of London before being suppressed. -
Jan 1, 1387
The Canterbury Tales
Written by Geofrey Chaucer -
Jan 1, 1415
Henry V defeats French at Agincourt
One early demonstration of the minlitary power and superiority that Engald had in previous centuries. -
Jan 1, 1431
English burn Joan of Arc at Reouen
This event reminds me of the archaic, cruel, evil methods of "justice" used centuries ago. -
Jan 1, 1455
War of the Roses
This was a war between two branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York, for the throne of England. Even though no roses where used at all, it is called like that because their heraldic symbols were a "red" and "white" rose respectively. -
Jan 1, 1476
William Caxton sets up the first printing press in England.
I would think that this is one of the most important evenst for the Literature of the World! Whithout it, poets would have had to write many books and poems by themselves! -
Jan 1, 1485
Morte darthur
Written by Geoffrey Chaucer and published by Caxton -
Jan 1, 1485
Accession of Henry VII
The Accession of Henry VII inaugurates the Tudor dynasty as well as the 16th century. -
Period: Jan 1, 1485 to
Sixteenth Century
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Jan 1, 1504
Mona Lisa painted
Michaelangelo paints one of the most famous paintings in history. "Mona Lisa" -
Jan 1, 1508
Michaelangelo paints Sistine Chapel ceiling
This Michaelangelo's masterpiece, is a cornerstone work of High Renaissance art, and it contains nine scenes from the Book of Genesis like the Creation of Adam. -
Jan 1, 1517
Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses
The Ninety-Five Theses, was written by Martin Luther in 1517 and is widely regarded as the initial catalyst for the Protestant Reformation. The disputation protests against clerical abuses, especially the sale of indulgences. -
Jan 1, 1519
Cortes invades Mexico
Cortes was a Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire, and was part of the generation of Spanish colonizers that began the first phase of the Spanish colonization of the Americas. -
Jan 1, 1547
Accession of Protestant Edward VI
After the death of Henry VIII, he was crowned at the age of nine.The transformation of the Anglican Church into a recognisably Protestant body occurred under Edward, who took great interest in religious matters. -
Irish Rebelion Crushed
The Second Desmond rebellion was the more widespread and bloody of the two Desmond Rebellions launched against English rule in Ireland. We can see the military and ruling power England at that time. -
Failed invason of the Spanish Armada
Once again, the naval power of England was very superior to those of other countries. In 1588, England crushed the Spanish navy and forced it to retreat. -
Amoretti
Written by Edmund Spenser -
Ralegh's voyage to Guiana
With five ships and their complements of sailors, Sir Walter Raleigh set out on his first known expedition to America. He was looking for Gold. But, even im his las voyage in 1617 he failed to find any. -
Globe Theater opens
The Globe Theater built in 1599 by Shakespeare, but was destroyed by fire on 1613. A second Globe Theatre was built on the same site by June 1614 and closed in 1642. A modern reconstruction of the Globe, named "Shakespeare's Globe", opened in 1997. It is an iconic structure for English poetry -
The Passionate Shepherd To His Love
Written by Christopher Marlowe -
The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd
Written by Sir Walter Ralegh -
Plague
This was just another instance were Britain was struck by the Black Death, and killed about 38,000 Londoners. Sadly, this same plague was also present in the 14th and 18th century as well. -
Hamlet Published
The play "Hamlet" contains one of the most quoted phases of all times; "To be or not to be." -
Period: to
Early Seventeenth Century
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Gunpowder Plot
This was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England, by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby. I remember we studied this during class, and I think is funny that the plan was sabotaged! -
Sonnets
Written by William Sakespeare -
Galileo observes the heavens
In the middle of a lost world full of wars, revolts, revolutions, murder and all the terrible human actions that have marked our past, I find very significant to find men like Galileo that invest their time and mind in exploring and understanding more about God's creation. -
Slave Deus Rex Judaeorum
Writtn by Aemilia Lanyer; includes "To the Doubtful Reader" and "Eve's Apology in Defense of Women" -
King James Bible
The first authorized version of the Christian Bible was first printed in 1611, and is one of the most common versions used these days. -
The History of the World (Conclusion: On Death)
Written by Sir Walter Ralegh -
Epigrams
Written by Ben Jonson; includes "To My Book," "On My First Daughter," "To John Donne," and "On My First Son." -
Death of Shakespeare
In April 1616, died one of the greatest poets that has ever lived. We read some of his sonnets in class and he was author of "Hamlet," a great tragic play. -
Beginning of the Thirty Years War
This was a series of wars principally fought in Central Europe, involving most of the countries of Europe. It was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history, and it fought largely as a religious war between Protestants and Catholics in the Holy Roman Empire. -
To the Memory of My Beloved, The Author, Mr. William Shakespeare, and What He Hath Left Us
Written by Ben Jonson -
On Shakespeare
Written by John Milton -
Holy Sonnets
Written by John Donne -
Songs and Sonnets
Written by John Donne; includes "The Flea" -
The Temple
Written by George Herbert; includes "The Altar," "Redemption," "Easter Wings," "Jordan," "The Collar," "The Pulley," "The Flower," and "Love." -
Areopagitica
Written by John Milton -
Poems
Written by John Milton; includes "L'Allegro," and "Il Penseroso." -
Lucasta
Written by Richard Lovelace; includes "To Lucasta, Going to the Wars," and "To Althea, from Prison." -
Execution of Charles I
Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue, and he was executed because he was seen as a tyrannical absolute monarch. This event led England to the period known as the English Interregnum or the English Commonwealth. -
Cromwell made Lord Protector
Comwell was an English military and political leader of Engladand. He was appointed Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland during the Interregnum after Charles I was executed in 1649. -
Richard Cromwell made Protector
After his father, Oliver Cromwell died, Richard was named as the second protector of England. The restoration period started when he fell from the power and Charles II restored the monarchy. -
Charles II restores the throne,
Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, and Oliver Cromwell became a virtual dictator of England as a de facto republic. After Charles II spent nine years in exile in France, he he was received in London to public acclaim, and the monarchy was restored. This event maks the restoration period. -
Period: to
Restoration and Eighteenth Century
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Great Plage of London
This was another very sad moment for London. After the Black Death had passed, he Great Plague was the last major epidemic of the bubonic plague to occur in London. -
Great Fire of London
After the Great Plague was almost eradicated, fire stuck and destroyed the central part of London. After this incident, John Dryden wrote "London After the Great Fire, 1666." -
An Essay of Dramatic Poesy
Written by John Dryden -
Dryden becomes poet laureate
This event confirst John Dryden's skills as a poet. We aslo read his satyrical peom "Mac Flecknoe." -
Poems
Written by Andrew Marvell; includes "To His Coy Mistress," "The Definition of Love," "The Mower to the Glowworms," and "The Mower's Song." -
Mac Flecknoe
Written by John Dryden -
A Discourse Concerning the Original and Progress of Satire
Written by John Dryden -
A Tale of a Tub
Written by Jonathan Swift -
Act of Union with Scotland
With this act, he Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland were united into a single, united kingdom named "Great Britain." -
A Description of a City Shower
Written by Jonathan Swift -
An Essay On Criticism
Written by Alexander Pope -
A Modest Proposal
Written by Jonathan Swift -
The Rake's Progress
William Hogarth -
The Dunciad
Written by Alexander Pope -
Marriage A-la-Mode
William Hogarth -
Death of Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope is one of my favorite British poets. And his "Essay on Critisism" is my favorite poem so far! Probably the best poet that ever lived! -
Death of Jonathan Swift
It is a very weird, but funny poet of the 18th century. He wrote "Gulliver's Travels" and "A Modest Proposal" (Which we should probably consider in Mexico). -
Rambler No. 4 (On Fiction)
Written by Samuel Johnson -
Rambler No. 60 (Biography)
Written by Samuel Johnson -
Begining of Seven Years' War
In this great war that included several powerful continets, Great Britain was involved and had several issues with Spain and France. -
George III succeeds to the throne
He was the grandson of King George II. He suffered from recurrent, and eventually permanent, mental illness. In 1810, regency was established, and his eldest son, ruled as Prince Regent. -
American War of Independence
This was the result of the American revolution in order to break free from the British Empire, and was just one of a series of military conflicts involving the kingdom of Great Britain. -
American Revolution
This political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, led to several political events and wars involving Great Britain. -
Lives of the Poets: Pope
Written by Samuel Johnson -
Death of Samuel Johnson
We read the Rambler No. 4 (On Fiction) of this Romantic Period Poet. -
Period: to
Romantic Period
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There Is No Natural Religion
Written by William Blake -
Songs of Innocence
Written by William Blake; includes the "Introduction," "The Lamb," "The Chimney Sweeper," and "Holy Thursday." -
Holy Willie's Prayer
Written by Robert Burns -
Lyrical Ballads
Written by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It also had a second (1800) and third edition (1802). -
France and Britain declare war againts each other
One more military conflic for Great Britain. This is also another event that marks the Romantic period for having several revolutions, wars and kingdom related conflicts. -
Songs of Experience
Written by William Blake; includes the "Introduction," "Holy Thursday," "The Chimney Sweeper," "The Tyger," and "London." -
The Eolian Harp
Written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge -
The Ryme of The Ancient Mariner
Written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. -
Michael
Written by William Wordsworth. -
Lucy Poems
Written by William Wordsworth; includes "She dwelt among the untrodden ways," "Three years she grew," "A slumber did my spirit seal," and "I travelled among unknown men." -
French Defeated at Trafalgar
This victory confirmed the naval supremacy that Britain had established during the previous century and the Royal Navy was never again seriously challenged by the French fleet in a large-scale engagement. -
Abolition of the slave trade in Britain
Britain, along with the US (1808), Mexico (1810), and Haiti (1804), abolishes slavery and gives one step foward into a more modern and free country. -
Prince of Wales becomes a regent for George III
George III, who started to reighn in 1760, suffered from recurrent, and eventually permanent, mental illness. After a final relapse in 1810, a regency was established, and George III's eldest son, Prince of Wales, ruled as Prince Regent. -
War between Britain and the United Satates
The great war of 1812 involved Britain once again in a military conflict. This was one more result of the American Revolution. -
Written after Swimming from Sestos to Abydos
Written by Lord Byron -
She walks in beauty
Written by Lord Byron -
Kubla Khan
Written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. -
Mutability
Written by Percy Bysshe Shelley -
To Wordsworth
Written by Percy Bysshe Shelley -
On First Looking into Chapman's Homer
Written by John Keats. -
On Seeing the Elgin Marbles
Written by John Keats. -
Ozymandias
Written by Percy Bysshe Shelley. -
Ode to a Nightingale
Written by John Keats. -
La Belle Dame sans Merci: A Ballad
Written by John Keats. -
Ode to Psyche
Written by John Keats. -
Ode on a Grecian Urn
Written by John Keats. -
Ode on Melancholy
Written by John Keats. -
To Autumn
Written by John Keats. -
Death of George III
After about 10 years of being the prince regent, George III's eldest son, George, Prince of Wales, succeeded his father as George IV. -
To a Sky-Lark
Written by Percy Bysshe Shelley. -
Keats Death
John Keats was one of the main romantic poets along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley. After his death, he had become one of the most beloved of all England. -
Death of Byron
We read Byrons poem "She Walks in Beauty." -
They say that Hope is happiness
Written by Lord Byron -
Period: to
Victorian Age
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My Lady of Shalott
Written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. -
Porphyria's Lover
Written by Robert Browning. -
First Train in London
With the introduction of the railroad, London was able to expand its comerce and transpotation, and have an extra boost in its economy. -
Victoria becomes queen
Her reign of 63 years and seven months, which is longer than that of any other British monarch and the longest of any female monarch in history, is known as the Victorian era. -
Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art
Written by John Keats. -
Sonnet to Sleep
Written by John Keats. -
A Song: "Men of England"
Written by Percy Bysshe Shelley. -
England in 1819
Written by Percy Bysshe Shelley. -
My Last Duchess
Written by Robert Browning. -
Ulysses
Written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. -
Break, Break, Break
Written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. -
Ten Hours Factory Act
The so-called "ten hour movement", led mostly by members of the Anglican Church, rallied public support for the Bill. Many different groups supported the act, including many Quakers. -
To Homer
Written by John Keats. -
Ode on Indolence
Written by John Keats. -
Sonnets from the Portuguese
Written by Elizabeth Barreti Browning. -
Tennyson succeeds Wordsworth as poet Laureate.
This icon of the British literature, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with his Lyrical Ballads. -
The Charge of the Light Brigade
Written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. -
Andrea del Sarto
Written by Robert Browning. -
American Civil War
The east was not the only part of the world that had serious problems, in 1861 the American Civil War started, and was a very sad dividing moment for the US. -
Death of Prince Albert
After Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gothaplunging, Queen Victoria's first cousind and later husband, died, he punged the Queen into a deep mourning that lasted for the rest of her life. -
Opening of the Suez Canal
The canal connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea allowing transportation and commerce between Europe and Asia. Another boost to the economy of both continents. -
Idylls Of The King (The Passing of Arthur)
Written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. -
Lake Isle of Innisfree
Written by William Butler Yeats. -
First subway line in London
Londons starts to grow economicaly and needs more transportation. London continues to develop itself. -
The Sorrow of Love
Written by William Butler Yeats. -
Wessex Poems and Other Verses
Written by thomas Hardy; includes "Hap," and "Neutral Tones." -
Discovery of Radium
One big discovery for the development of new technologies. It is one more of the events welcoming the 20th century! -
Period: to
Twentieth Century
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The Ruined Maid
Written by Thomas Hardy. -
First wireless communication across the Atlantic
This is a clear example of how the 20th century is marked by huge technological advancements. -
Death of Qeen Victoria
After 63 long years of reigning England, Queen Victoria leaves the throne for Edward VII, and gives an end to the Victorian century. -
Twelve Types: Pope and the Art of Satire
Written by G. K. Chesterton. -
Heretics (On the Wit of Whistler)
Written by G. K. Chesterton. -
All Things Considered: Science and Religion
Written by G. K. Chesterton. -
On Lying In Bed
Written by G. K. Chesterton. -
No Second Troy
Written by William Butler Yeats. -
Period: to
Reing of George V
T. S. Elio's famous poem,"The Waste Land," was publishes in 1922 during George V's reign. -
Odour Of Chrysanthemums
Written by D. H. Lawrence. -
The Convergence of the Twain
Written by Thomas Hardy. -
Channel Firing
Written by Thomas Hardy. -
World War I
This is a very clear reflection of the change that society was going thrugh and it was also reflected in the literary works written during and after World War I -
Prufrock
Written by T. S. Eliot. -
The Wild Swans at Coole
Written by William Butler Yeats. -
Poems
Written by Gerard Manley Hopkins; icludes "God's Grandeur," "The Windhover," "Pied Beauty," "Hurrahing in Harvest," "Felix Randal," "Spring and Fall: to ayoung child," "Carrion Comfort," "No worst, there is none," "I wake and feel the fell of dark, not day," and "Thou art indeed just, Lord." -
Piano
Written by D. H. Lawrence. -
The Second Coming
Written by William Butler Yeats. -
The Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the many treaties signed after World War I, reflecting a desire of peace and order during the early thwentieth century. -
The Waste Land
Written by T.S. Eliot -
The Jurney of the Magi
Written by T. S. Eliot. -
Britain enters European common market
One more example of Britain's latest develoments to become richer and more developed. -
Women twenty-one and over granted voting rights
Not only there are technological advancements, but also sociological ones.This is a clear picturo of how society is chnaging the way it looks at women. -
Stock Market crash; Great Depression Begins
Once again, things were getting worse around the world and the great depression is a good indication of it. -
Come to Think: On Censorship of Literature
Written by G. K. Chesterton. -
The Force That Through the Green Fuse Drives the Flower
Written by Dylan Thomas. -
Hitler comes to power in Germany
After the Great depresion began, Hitler came to power and things began to get even worse. All these events helping to the burst of a new World War! -
Lullaby
Written by W. H. Auden. -
As I Walked Out One Evening
Written by W. H. Auden. -
The Circus Animals' Desertion
Written by William Butler Yeats. -
In Memory of W. B. Yeats
Written by W. H. Auden. -
The Unknown Citizen
Written by W. H. Auden. -
World War II
In the very same century, a second World Wars took place, and was the inspiration for many literary poems all arround the globe. -
Learnign in War-Time
A sermon preached in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Oxford,Autumn, 1939 -
Musee des Beaux Arts
Written by W. H. Auden. -
Little Gidding
Written by T. S. Eliot. -
Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night
Written by Dylan Thomas. -
Apollo moon landing
Even though the 20th century is marked by 2 World Wars, it is also replete of many technologycal advancements that revolutioned human kind, and the apollo, is one great example of it. -
Vikings start raiding Europe.
Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. In England the Viking Age began dramatically on 793 when Vikings destroyed the abbey on Lindisfarne.
