The History of the English Language

By dsmith96
  • Period: 400 to

    Timespan

  • 450

    Writing of Beowulf

    The writing of Beowulf was written sometime between the years 450 and 1100.
  • Period: 450 to Nov 20, 1100

    Old English

  • 451

    Invasion of Britain

    Germany Invaded Britain in the 5th Century. These people spoke the same languages.
  • Nov 20, 1066

    Invading of England

    England was invaded and conquered by the Duke of Normandy in the year 1066.
  • Nov 20, 1066

    The Norman Invasion

    The Norman Invasion took place in the year 1066. It is called the Norman Invasion because it is when the Normandy's invaded England.
  • Period: Nov 20, 1100 to Nov 20, 1500

    Middle English

  • Nov 20, 1300

    English is dominant language in Britain

    In the year 1300, English became the dominant language in Britain.
  • Nov 20, 1300

    Chaucer's Canterbury

    Chaucer's Canterbury was writting between the years 1100 and 1500.
  • Nov 20, 1400

    Shakespeare's First Folio

    The famous phrase from Shakespeare's play, "Hamlet" came about between the years 1500 and 1800.
  • Nov 20, 1492

    Discovery of the Americas

    The Americas were discovered in the year 1492 by a man named Christopher Columbus.
  • Period: Nov 20, 1500 to

    Modern English

  • Nov 20, 1501

    Invention of Printing

    The Invention of Printing came about in the Modern English era between the years 1500 and 1800. This changed the way we read and write.

  • The Great Vowel Shift

    Twoards the end of the Middle English period, a shift in vowel pronounciation came about. The vowels were now pronounced differently.

  • Printing Press

    The Invention of the Printing Press came about in the year 1600.

  • Discovery of North America

    The Discovery of North America occured in the year 1600.

  • First English Dictionary

    First English Dictionary was published in the year 1604. There was now a book of words spoken in the English langauge with a definition of their meanings.

  • New English Words

    New English words arised from the British Empire and the Industrial Revolution and adopted many words from different foreign countries.

  • The American Revolution

    The American Revolution began in the year 1900. New technology and sources of writing of the English Language came about and made it easier for people to speak and read it.