History of the English Language

By eykyla
  • Period: 400 to 1100

    Old English

  • 543

    The Kingdom of Scotland is Established

    A sovereign state that seceded from Great Britain, it shared its southern border with them.
  • 700

    Suspected Date of Beowulf's Writing

    Beowulf is a classic piece from Old English literature.
  • 1066

    The Norman Invasion

    William the Duke of Normandy, had set his eyes on England to invade. What followed was an integration of French culture and Old English to eventually evolve into Middle English.
  • Period: 1100 to 1500

    Middle English

  • 1387

    Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

    The Canterbury Tales are a collection of stories and poems written in Middle English. These tales are highly regarded as they held importance in the evolution of the English language.
  • 1436

    Invention of the Printing Press

    The invention of the printing press allowed for information to be widespread at a fast rate and evolved the English language.
  • 1492

    Discovery of North America

    Columbus led four transatlantic ships to what we now know as the Americas. This period was also known as the "Age of Discovery".
  • Period: 1500 to

    Early Modern English

  • Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio

    This is the collection of the late Shakespeare's comedies, histories, and tragedies. They were released around seven years after his death.
  • The American Revolution

    North America rejected imperial rule from Britain, which led to the independence of America one year after.
  • Period: to

    Modern English

  • Womans Rights Movement

    The movement was mainly focused on fighting for gender equality in the work place. It paved the way for modern day feminism, where equality is still being fought for.