The history of the English language

By victoriabr
  • 450

    Old English (450-1100 AD)

  • 455

    Germanic tribes invaded Britain

    455-1066 AD
    Germanic language and culture became part of the British heritage
  • 793

    The Vikings first invade Britain

    Ugly, stemming from the word uggligr was used by the vikings to insult each other.
  • 800

    Beowulf's writing

    800-1100 AD
  • The Invasion of Normandy
    1066

    The Invasion of Normandy

    Royal and business class then spoke French, while the lower classes continued to speak English. This separated the classes.
  • 1100

    Middle English (1100-1500 AD)

  • 1167

    The University of Oxford is founded

  • "Summer is icumen in"
    1260

    "Summer is icumen in"

    The oldest known English song is manuscripted.
  • 1300

    Bilingual word lists are started to be compiled

    Over 10,000 words, three-quarters of them are still in use today.
  • 1380

    Chaucer's Canterberry Tales

    1380-1400 AD
  • The invention of the printing press
    1450

    The invention of the printing press

    This allowed more people to read and learn the language. It also standardized the English language.
  • 1492

    The discovery of North America

  • 1500

    Modern English

    1500-present AD
  • The first English dictionary is published

    The first English dictionary is published

  • The authorized version of The Bible appears.

  • The publication of Shakespeare's first folio

  • The American Revolution

  • The Marquise de Sade's "Justine" is published.

    The cruel imagery helped establish the term "sadism".