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Period: 450 to Jan 1, 1100
Old English
Examples of words:
Besmirch, erstwhile, forsooth -
500
Invasion of Britain
Three Germanic tribes, the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, invaded Britain from Denmark and Germany. The Angles came from Englaland and spoke Englisc. See: England and English. -
Jan 1, 700
Earliest Manuscript of Old English
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Jan 1, 991
Battle of Maldon
The Vikings raid the Anglo-Saxons. This battle is told through an Anglo-Saxon poem, one of the only writings that remain. -
Jan 1, 1000
Beowulf
Beowulf is an epic poem, written by an unknown Anglo Saxon poet. -
Jan 1, 1066
The Norman Invasion
William the Conqueror invaded England, bringing the French language with him. The upper class spoke French, while the lower spoke English. This brought new words to the English language once it was widespread again. -
Period: Jan 1, 1100 to Jan 1, 1500
Middle English
Examples of words:
hastow, morewe, pardee -
Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
King John signs the Magna Carta to prevent a rebellion. It limited the monarchy's power. -
Jan 1, 1337
The Hundred Years War
The Hundred Years War occurred 1337-1453. It was England vs. France, and in the end, England retreated from France. -
Jan 1, 1348
The Black Plague
During the years that the Black Plague ravaged Europe, it is estimated that 1/3 of the population died. People with the plague were covered in buboes that turned black, giving it the name "The Black Death." -
Jan 1, 1400
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
Written by Geoffrey Chaucer, it is about a group of pilgrims who come together on their journey to Canterbury and trade stories. -
Jan 1, 1440
Invention of the Printing Press
Johannes Gutenberg began the invention of the printing press in 1436, and was successful by 1440. This helped make language and ideas widespread, keeping the language similar and helping concepts to grow faster. -
Oct 12, 1492
Discovery of North America
North America was discovered by Christopher Columbus, and word was immediately sent back to Europe. English will be the prevalent language in the New World. -
Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
Early Modern English
Examples of words:
afeard, counterfeit, haply -
Jamestown Established in the New World
The first permanent English settlement in the new world is established. It's located in Virginia. -
Shakespeare's First Folio
Published after he died, Shakespeare's First Folio is the first collection of his plays. In fact, 18 of his plays we would never have known about had they not been published in the First Folio. -
The American Revolution
The American Revolution occurred from 1765-1783. The colonies rebelled against Britain and gained their independence from King George. While the basics of the language are the same, there are now slight differences between the way English is spoken in America vs. England. -
Period: to
Late Modern English
Examples of words:
Give, day, most -
Invention of the telephone
Communication is modernized and made simpler when Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone. -
First Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary is published
It defined over 400,000 words, and contained 10 volumes.
