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Period: 400 to 1100
Old English Time Period
This is the period of time where English that was spoken is referred to as Old English."Fæder ure þu þe eart on heofonum; Si þin nama gehalgod" is an example of Old Englsih writing -
450
Anglo-Saxons
The island of Britain was settled by people who spoke the Old English language, the Anglo-Saxons. -
1000
Suspected date of Beowulf's writing
Beowulf was an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet. He is well known Old English writer. Although we don't know the exact time he was writing, historians believe his writing was distributed from 700-1000. -
1066
The Norman Invasion
The Norman Invasion was headed by William the Conqueror, who was the Duke of Normandy. This French conquering lead to the rich and those in command speaking French and the poor speaking English. This eventually lead to a new type of French-English mix and evolving from Old English to Middle English. -
Period: 1100 to 1500
Middle English Time Period
This is the period of time where English that was spoken is referred to as Middle English. "Oure fadir that art in heuenes, halewid be thi name" is an example of Middle English style writing. -
1362
English becomes Official Language of England
The Pleading in English Act was an Act of the Parliament of England. The Act complained that because the Norman French language wasn't known by the lower class people of England, they didn't know what was being said for or against them in the court. -
1400
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
Geoffrey Chaucer was an English Poet and Author. He is proclaimed as the greatest writer in the middle ages. His best known work is the Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. The Canterbury Tales is thought to have been incomplete at the end of Chaucer's life, although they're incomplete, it is looked at as one of the most important works in English literature. -
1440
The Invention of the Printing Press
The invention of the printing press help standardize the English Language. It slowed the evolution of English since there was now a documented language and it was easier to make more copies and spread the information. -
Period: 1500 to
Early Modern English
This is the period of time where English that was spoken is referred to as Early Modern English. -
The Discovery of North America
The discovery of the Americas by the Europeans. Helped spread English across the world. -
Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio
Shakespeare's First Folio contained many of Shakespeare's most notable work. The English was slight different from how we would speak now but Shakespeare's work still helped evolve English. -
First English Newspaper
The Oxford Gazette Oxford, England presented issue number one of what most historians consider to be the first newspaper that was ever printed -
Period: to
Modern English Time Period
This is the period of time where English that was spoken is referred to as Modern English. "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." is an example of Modern English. -
The American Revolution
The American Revolution happened from 1765-1783. This Revolution was American peoples way of gaining control of their own country. We won our independence in this war.
