-
Period: 400 to 1100
Old English
The oldest part of our language in the timeline
Examples:
"Eald":"Old"
"Brodor":"Brother"
"Acwellan":"To kill"
"Gōd wyrd Gōde wyrde": "good luck" -
665
The first poem written in English
Caedmon's Hymn was the first poem to be written in English. -
750
Beowulf poem
A poem written in Old English that is cited as one of the most important Old English writings. -
800
Charlemagne crowned Emperor of the West
He was crowned by Pope Leo III on December 25th. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlemagne -
820
Algebra invented
Al Khwarizmi, an Arabic scholar invents algebra. -
1066
The Norman Invasion
The Duke of Normandy invaded and conquered England, which brought the French language to Britain and created a gap between the upper classes who spoke French and lower classes that spoke English. -
1086
The Doomsday Book is written
The great census in England to detail the property and wealth. Ordered by William the Conqueror. -
1095
The First Crusade
Pope Urban II calls for the First Crusade to protect pilgrims from attack -
Period: 1100 to 1500
Middle English
Where the French invaded Britain and the languages mixed some. Examples: "Stynt thy clappe!": "shut up"
"So moot I gon": "I swear"
"Bet": "Better"
"Namely": "especially" -
1206
Genghis Khan leads the Mongol armies
30 to 60 million people killed creating the largest land empire from the Pacific to the Black Sea. -
1348
The Black Plague kills 75 million Europeans.
After starting in China, the plague moves to Europe. -
1387
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
A collection of 24 stories that were written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer. -
1492
Discovery of North America
Christoper Columbus discovers North America. -
1500
The invention of the Printing Press
The invention that brought reading to the masses. Instead of a scribe having to write a book over the course of months or years this could be used to make copies much faster and cheaper, making it easier for lower classes to get books. -
Period: 1500 to
Modern English
Vowels were being pronounced shorter and shorter and the British Empire stretching around the world, many new words were added. Examples:
Able
Father
Nuclear
Anything we use in modern day. -
Pilgrims arrive at Plymouth
Pilgrims arrive on the Mayflower from England in the new world. -
Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio
The first collected edition of Shakespeare's plays. https://www.folger.edu/what-shakespeare-first-folio -
The American Revolution
The British colonies rebelled against The monarchy due to over taxation. They declared their independence from Britain and won the war, creating the U.S. It ended in 1783. https://blog.oup.com/2013/09/washington-end-revolutionary-war/ -
The Louisiana Purchase
The U.S. purchased a large chunk of the middle of the country as we see it today from France. -
Humans land on the Moon
Humans land on the Moon for the first time in history.
