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Period: 410 to
Anglo-Saxon Invasion
Saxons (The Angles, Saxons and Jutes) from Denmark began to invade and move into all parts of Europe. They were seen as barabrians that were changing Christianity. The Saxons ruled for 400 years bringing changes to the language and culture. -
Period: 450 to Dec 31, 1099
Old English
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520
Beowulf written between 600 and 900 CE
The oldest known poem written in English. The author is unknown. It has 3,183 lines and was originally thought to be an oral poem.. No one knows the exact date it was written. It is believed to have characters that lived in the early 500's. But the poem may have been composed from 600 to 900 CE scholars keep changing the dates. -
Apr 2, 742
Charlemagne or Charles the Great
2 April 742 – 28 January 814
He was the King of the Franks from 768, the King of Italy from 774, the first Holy Roman Emperor, and the first emperor in western Europe since the collapse of the Western Roman Empire three centuries earlier. -
Oct 14, 1066
Norman Invasion
The Normans and a French army invaded England led by Willian II of Normandy. The Normans defeated King Harold II. The Invasion brought French to the English language. -
Period: Jan 1, 1100 to Jan 1, 1500
Middle English
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Period: May 1, 1337 to Jul 30, 1453
The Hundred Years War
The Hundred Years War, lasting from 1337 until 1453. Really lasted 116 years. The war started in May 1337 when King Philip VI of France attempted to confiscate the English territories (located in Southwestern France). It ended in July 1453 when the French finally expelled the English from the continent (except for Calais). All of the battles were fought in France. Joan of Arc was a leader in this era. -
Oct 10, 1347
Bubonic Plague
The Bubonic Plague or Black Death. In the early 1300's China had an outbreak of the Bubonic Plague. Since they were one of the tmain trading hubs, the disease quickly spread to other countries. It began in Italy. The disease spread quickly and hit people hard. One quote said the victims, "ate lunch with their friends and dinner with their ancestors in paradise." Within 5 years (1347 to 1352) over 25 million people in Europe died. the disease was spread by fleas on rats and other animals. -
Jan 1, 1387
The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer
Chaucer began writing the Canterbury Tales in 1387 and didn't finish before he died on October 25, 1400. He wrote in English which only a few poets did. Most were still writing in French or Latin. -
May 30, 1431
Joan of Arc, The Maid of Orleans
1412 to 1431.She had dreams, visions and heard voices that she would lead France to victory. April, 1429, at 17 she was given the command of 5,000 men. Carrying an ancient sword that she had found near the tomb of a saint, and a white banner embroidered with lilies.,she led the army in many victories. She was captured by a French duke who had sided with England after his father's death. Duke burgundy turned Joan over to England. She was thrown in prison for a year. Then burnt at the stake. -
Jan 1, 1436
Invention of Printing Press
Johannes Gutenberg invented a printing press with moveable type. It used a whole bunch of tiny stamp-like letters that were arranged in trays (typeset) then spread ink over them. Last paper was pressed onto the type to make a printed page. in 1450 the Gutenberg Bible was printed. It was the first book known to be printed with moveable metal type. -
Oct 12, 1492
Discovery of the Americas
Columbus left Spain on August 3, 1492 believeing that he could sail to the Indies by going west. Instead he discovered America. He and his crew traveled in 3 ships called the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. On October 12th they spotted land and found people populating the islands in what is modern day Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba. -
Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
Modern English
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Period: Apr 23, 1564 to
Shakespeare
born in Stratford-upon-Avon. Married Anne Hathaway at 18. Had 3 children Susanna, and twins Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet died when he was 11.
Shakespeare died in 1616 in Stratsford. Some historians believe he was born and died on April 23rd. -
Shakespeare's 1st Folio Published
36 of Shakespeare's plays put into a large folio after his death. Usually a folio was only for reference like an encyclopedia or writings of important authors. In that day Shakespeare's plays were seen as entertainment not serious literature. So publishing his plays was groundbreaking. -
First Public School in America
First public school started by Puritans in Boston, Mass.
Boston Latin School. it is the oldest public school in America. Founded April 23, 1635. It was started by Rev. John Cotton. The school was publicly funded and the first classes were held in the home of Philemon Pormort, the school's master. It was an all boys school girls were allowed to attend in 1972. Believe it or not five of the 56 signers of the U.S. Con -
French Indian War
From 1756 to 1763. It was a war for control of the colonies in Americas and Caribbean. The colonists wanted to fight against the French, but Britain rulers wouldn't let them, or give them weapons. The colonists began fighting the British for independence shortly after this. -
Period: to
American Revolution
The 13 North American colonies revolted against the British Crown and government. They wanted independence from British rule and taxes. In 1778 France joined with the Americans and helped to turn the war to benefit the colonies. fFghting didn't formally end until 1783 at which time Americans had offically gained their independence. -
Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson June 11 to 28th, 1776. Presented to the Continental Congress it was debated then put to a vote. Signed on 4th of July, 1776. The colonies already at war with Britain officially stated they were independent states and no longer a part of the British Empire. The phrase "put your John Hancock" here referring to a signature is from how Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence. He signed it really big knowing that if the British won all ths signers would be killed. -
Period: to Jan 1, 1090
The Vikings
From the History Channel. From around A.D. 800 to the 11th century, a vast number of Scandinavians left their homelands to seek their fortunes elsewhere. These seafaring warriors--known collectively as Vikings or Norsemen ("Northmen")--began by raiding coastal sites, especially undefended monasteries, in the British Isles. Over the next three centuries, they would leave their mark as pirates, raiders, traders and settlers on much of Britain and the European continent, as well as parts of modern-
