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Period: 400 to 1150
Old English
the language of the Anglo-Saxons (up to about 1150), a highly inflected language with a largely Germanic vocabulary, very different from modern English. Words
abutan - about, around
ac - but, however
anlicnes - image -
410
Germanic invasions
Roman forces had been withdrawn, and small, isolated bands of migrating Germans began to invade Britain. The invading Germanic tribes spoke similar languages, which in Britain developed into
what we now call Old English. -
600
Rise of the Saxons
Introduced new religious words from both Latin and Greek -
700
Beowulf Written
Composed sometime between the 8th century and the 11th century -
900
Danes invade England
Establish a kingdom at York and begin influencing English -
1066
The Norman Invasion
French becomes the language of the upper-class and English became the language of the lower-class. For a period
there was a kind of linguistic class division,
where the lower classes spoke English and
the upper classes spoke French. -
Period: 1150 to 1500
MIddle English
spoken after the Norman conquest (1066) until the late 15th century Words
al, al be that: although
coy: quiet
nas: was not -
1209
University of Cambridge is formed
The University of Cambridge is formed by scholars from Oxford. The scholars had migrated to Cambridge from Oxford to escape hostile townsmen. By 1226 the scholars were numerous enough to have set up an organization represented by a Chancellor. The school had arranged regular courses of study and taught their own members -
1215
Magna Carta
Also known as The Great Charter. It was the first limit on the absolute authority of the king or queen -
1362
The Statute of Pleading
Makes English the official language in England. Parliament is opened with its first speech delivered in English. In 1399, at his coronation, King Henry IV becomes the first English monarch to deliver a speech in English -
1387
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
a collection of 24 stories that runs to over 17,000 lines written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400 -
1440
The invention of the Printing Press
Allowed people to print in large quantities and spread word quickly. Printing also brought standardization to English. -
1492
The discovery of North America
Columbus sailed the ocean blue and found North America which spread English to a new continent -
Period: 1500 to
Early Modern
the stage of the English language from the beginning of the Tudor period to the English Interregnum and Restoration Words
Ye- You
Art- Are
on, yonder - that one there -
Mayflower Compact
It proved for the first time that people could gocern themselves -
Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio
First Folio of Shakespeare is the first printed collection of Shakespeare's plays.It is considered one of the most influential books ever published in the English language -
Bill of Rights
It further limited the power of the king and expanded essential rights to the common people such as freedom of speech, free elections, no standing army, and the right to due process of the law -
American Revolution
Lead to America's independence from Britain and a new form of government -
Period: to
Late Modern English
spoken since the Great Vowel Shift in England -
Telegraph
The telegraph is invented allowing almost instant communication between distant lands. -
Oxford English Dictionary
First dictionary written by the Oxford English; large composition of a language
