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Period: 400 to Dec 31, 1099
Old English Era
Old English first began when Germanic Tribes invaded Britain. Sample Words and Phrases during this time period:
Brodor=Brother
Hus=House -
407
Constantine Withdraws from Britain
Roman troops are ordered by Constantine to withdraw from Britain, and they never returned again. -
410
First Germanic Tribes arrive in Britain
This causes an early Germanic influence on English. -
597
Christianity in Britain
St. Augustine of Canterbury brings Christianity to Britain. -
Period: Jan 1, 600 to
Suspected time of the writing of Beowulf
Beowulf is an Old English poem that is commonly known as one of the most important works in the Old English time period. -
Jan 1, 850
Danes invade England
Danes begin to influence English. -
Jan 1, 872
Harold I "Creates" Norway
Harold, King of Norway, unifies Norway/ -
Dec 4, 988
Attack on Britain
Vikings and Danes make an attack on Britain. -
Dec 4, 1040
Macbeth
Macbeth murders Duncan, King of Sciotland. -
Jan 1, 1066
Norman Invasion
The Duke of Normandy invaded and conquered England. -
Period: Jan 1, 1100 to Dec 31, 1499
Middle English
Modern English is a combination of Old English which the lower classes spoke and French which the upper class spoke. Sample words durimg this era:
Aungel: Angel
Ba: Kiss
Chiknes: Chickens -
Jan 1, 1171
University of Oxford is founded
This university later created the Oxford Dictionary in 1857. -
Jan 1, 1215
King John signs the Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is a revolutionary document that paves the way for Constitutional law in the English world. -
Dec 4, 1325
Renaissance
The beginning of the Renaissance in Italy, -
Jan 1, 1399
King Henry delivers a speech
King Henry is the first English monarch to deliver a speech in English. -
Jan 1, 1400
Estimated Completing of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
Chaucer was a famous Poet. -
Jan 1, 1428
Joan of Arc
Courageous leader of the French against the English, and is later burnt at the stake. -
Jan 1, 1440
Invention of the Printing Press
The inventionn of the printing press provided means to stabalize and record a common English among the people. -
Jan 1, 1476
The Printing Press is brought to England
The English language is able to be recorded and printed for reference. -
Jan 1, 1492
Discovery of North America
Columbus discovered America and paved the way for a new nation. -
Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
Modern English
The Modern English Era established a more definite language because by this era the printing press recorded a language. -
Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
Early Modern English
"Great Vowel Shift" Common words during this era:
Legitamate: Lawful
Enimitie: Hatred -
Jan 10, 1517
Beginning of the Reformation
Martin Luther posts his 95 theses against the church, beginning the reformation movement. -
Jan 10, 1536
King Henry III
King Henry III is excommunicated from the church, makes himself head of the church, and beheads his wife Anne Boleyn. -
Dec 4, 1558
Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth takes the throne and restores Protestantism. -
Cawdrey publishes first English Dictionary
The first dictionary provides people with a source to find and study definitions and words. -
Jamestown
First English Colony settled in Jamestown, Virgina. -
Authorized version of the Bible
One of the largest written religious influences over the English world. -
Thirty Years War
This was the beginning of the Thirty Years War. -
Pilgrims
Pilgrims arrive at Plymouth Rock. -
Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio
Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, actor, and know as one of the greatest writers in the English language. -
American Revolution Begins
The American Revolution begins at Lexington and Concord. -
Period: to
American Revolution
The thirteen colonies fought Britain for their independence. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is signed. -
John Keats was born
John Keats was an English Romantic Poet. -
Period: to
Late Modern English
The main difference from Early Modern English is that more words were added, and there were changes in vocabulary. Sample words and phrases from this era:
Legit: Awesome (short for legitamate, but with a different definition from early modern english)
Hangout: to be together
Computer (Due to a technological invention, the word 'computer' was added to the English Language) -
Dostoyevsky is Born
Dostoyevsky is the author of Crime and Punishment. -
Civil War
The Civil War begins after southern states secede from the Union. -
Crime and Punishment Published
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Huck Finn written
All modern English literature after 1885 is said to have come from this book. He wrote in a way authors had never written before. -
Theodore Roethke's Birth
Theodore Roethke is a modern poet. -
Angry Men
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Ethelbert is baptized
Ethelbert is the first English king to be baptized, and he paves the way for future Christian influence in English.
