The History of the English Language

By braedensw
  • 2011 BCE

    Instagram and Snapchat Debut

    Instagram and Snapchat Debut
    Instagram and Snapchat are a current form of social media, used worldwide, for people to post pictures with comments. Many new words have been shared and spread across these platforms and used by teenagers and influencers.
  • 1998 BCE

    First Blogging Sites

    Personal Blogs became very popular from the late 90's through the early 2000's and made it easier to spread new slang and other shortened versions of English words.
  • 1983 BCE

    Beginning of the Internet

    The internet has a large significance in the English language because it introduced a new range of communication.
  • 1870 BCE

    Second Industrial Revolution

    The significance of the Second Industrial Revolution to the English language is its need for new words for new technology.
  • 1800 BCE

    Late Modern English

    Late Modern English is currently what is spoken among those who speak English. The only difference between Early Modern English and Late Modern English is vocabulary. Example Word: Yeet
  • 1765 BCE

    The American Revolution

  • 1609 BCE

    Publication of Shakespeare

    Shakespeare's first Folio was published.
  • 1604 BCE

    First English Dictionary Printed

    The first English dictionary was like glue for the English language because words and what they mean are now set in, and they are harder to change.
  • 1500 BCE

    Early Modern English Begins

    As Early Modern English begins, Middle English comes to an end. Shakespeare wrote his literature in this time. An event called "The Great Vowel Shift" occurs and vowels began to be pronounced shorter as time went on. Example words: Author, Doubt
  • 1450 BCE

    Printing Press is Invented

    Printing Press is Invented
    Invented by Johannes Guttenburg, this creation made it easier to print books and newspapers.
  • 1217 BCE

    French English Battles

    The Naval Battle of Sandwich occurred, and the English conquered the French.
  • 1168 BCE

    The School of Oxford is Founded

  • 1100 BCE

    Middle English Begins

    Middle English was English with some French words added. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales are written in this form of English. Example word: Thou
  • 1066 BCE

    Norman Invasion

    Creating a linguistic division between the classes, lower class spoke English, higher class spoke French.
  • 985 BCE

    Discovery of North America

    This was done by a 15-year-old viking named Leif Eriksson Day. He found it after being expelled from Iceland for killing a neighbor.
  • 900 BCE

    Beowulf's Writings

    Beowulf's Writings
  • 450 BCE

    Old English begins

    Word Examples: Grubbling, Mugwump
  • 400 BCE

    Three Germanic Tribes Invade Britain

    Englisc is introduced.
  • Period: 400 BCE to

    The History of the English Language