The History of the English Language

By kabrie.w
  • 400

    Britian is invaded by the Romans

    The Romans invaded Britian kickstarting 400 years of Roman control.
  • Period: 400 to Jan 1, 1100

    Old English

  • Oct 31, 700

    Scandinavian Influences English

    The Scandinavians begin to settle in Britain and Ireland.
  • Jan 1, 1000

    Beowulfs writing

    Beowulf's writing: earliest manuscripy of old English.
  • Sep 28, 1066

    Invasion or Norman

    Norman Ivaded England and was successful at the battle of Fulford.
  • Period: Oct 31, 1100 to Oct 31, 1500

    Middle English

  • Oct 31, 1171

    Intro of Norman, French, and English

    Henry II declares himself overlord of Ireland, introducing Norman French and English to the country. About this time the University of Oxford is founded.
  • Oct 31, 1362

    First speech delivered in English

    The Statute of Pleading makes English the official language in England. Parliament is opened with its first speech delivered in English.
  • Oct 31, 1450

    Invention of the printing press

    German printer Johannes Gutenberg invents a movable type of mechanical printing technology.
  • Oct 31, 1492

    The discovery of North America

    In 1492 A european named Christopher Columbus discovered North America.
  • Oct 31, 1500

    Discovery of the americas

  • Period: Oct 31, 1500 to

    Modern English

  • First English Grammar is Published

    The first grammar of English--William Bullokar's Pamphlet for Grammar --is published.

  • Arrival of the first slaves

    The first African slaves in North America arrive in Virginia.

  • Shakespears first folio

    Shakespear publishes his first folio.

  • American revolution

    The american revolution started in 1775 and ended in 1783.
    The American Revolutionary War was the revolt against Great Britain by the thirteen American colonies which later founded the United States of America.

  • The New Yorker

    The New Yorker magazine is founded by Harold Ross and Jane Grant.

  • Social Networking

    The first social networking site (SixDegrees.com) is launched. (Friendster is introduced in 2002, and both MySpace and Facebook begin operating in 2004.)

  • The 5th volume of the dictionary

    The fifth volume of the Dictionary of American Regional English ( is published by Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.

  • Danish begins to influence English

    The Danish raid England, occupy Northumbria, and establish a kingdom at York.

  • England begins to emerge.

    Egbert of Wessex incorporates Cornwall into his kingdom and is recognized as overlord of the seven kingdoms of the Angles and Saxons.

  • The Canterbury's Tales

    A collection of over 20 stories written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century, Written durring the Hundred Years' War.