-
1066
The Normans conquered England
Replacing the native English nobility
with Anglo-Normans and introducing Norman French as the language of
government in England. -
1204
King John lost Normandy to the French
beginning the loosening of ties
between England and the Continent. -
1258
King Henry III
issued the first English-language royal proclamation
since the Conquest, having been forced by his barons to accept the Provisions
of Oxford, establishing a Privy Council to oversee the administration of the
government, so beginning the growth of the English constitution and
parliament -
1300
Shwa
Was gradually lost in the North in the course of the thirteenth century. -
1337
The Hundred Years’ War
began -
1358
Black death
The Black Death killed an estimated one-third of England’s population and continued to plague the country for much of the rest of the century. -
1362
The Statute of Pleadings was enacted
requiring all court proceedings to
be conducted in English. -
1381
Peasants’ Revolt
he Peasants’ Revolt led by Wat Tyler was the first rebellion of
working-class people against their exploitation. Although it failed in most of its
immediate aims, it marks the beginning of popular protest. -
1384
John Wycliffe died
-
1399
Henry
Ivused English to claim the throne -
1400
Geoffrey Chaucer died,
having produced a highly influential body of
English poetry. -
1400
End of fourteenth century
Public documents and records began to be written in English -
1430
The Chancery office
Began recordkeeping in a form of East Midland English, which became the written standard
of English. -
1476
William Caxton brought printing to England
thus promoting literacy
throughout the population. -
1476
John Cabot sailed to Nova Scotia
foreshadowing English territorial
expansion overseas. -
1485
Henry Tudor became king of England
ending thirty years of civil strife,
called the War of the Roses, and introducing 118 years of the Tudor dynasty. -
1494
vowel sound
Was retained in ed until the fifteenth century change it -
1500
Brothers
Brothers wrote in the dialect of their native regions -
1500
Old English
diphthongs were smoothed into middle English monophthongs.
