THE MIDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD

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  • 1024

    King John lost Normandy to the French

    King John lost Normandy to the French, beginning the loosening of ties between England and the Continent.
  • 1066

    The Normans conquered England

    The Normans replaced the native English nobility with anglo-Normas and introducing Norman French as the language of government in England.
  • Period: 1100 to 1500

    THE MIDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD

  • 1204

    The loss of Normandy

    The loss of Normandy in 1204 by King John, a descendant of the Conqueror, removed an important tie with France, and subsequent events were to loosen the remaining ties.
  • 1258

    King Henry III

    King Henry III issued the first English-language royal proclamation since the Conquest, having been forced by his barons to accept the Provision of Oxford, establishing a Privy Council to oversee the administration of the government, so beginning the growth of the English constitution and parliament.
  • 1337

    The Hundred years began

    The Hundred years began and lasted until 1453, promoting English Nationalism.
  • 1348

    The Black Death

    The Black Death killed an estimated one-third of England´s population and continued to plague the country for much of the rest of the century.
  • 1362

    The Statue of Pleadings

    The Statue of Pleadings was enacted, requiring all court proceedings to be conducted in English.
  • 1381

    The Peasants

    The Peasants´ Revolt led by Wat Tyler was the first rebellion of working-class people against their exploitation. Although it failed in most of its immediate aims, it marks the beginning of the popular protest.
  • 1381

    John Wycliffe

    John Wycliffe died, having promoted the first complete translation of scripture into the English language (the Wycliffite Bible)
  • 1384

    Geoffrey Chaucer

    Geoffrey Chaucer died, having produced a highly influential body of English poetry.
  • 1399

    Henry IV

    Henry IV used English to claim the throne.
  • 1430

    The Chancery office

    The Chancery office (where legal records were deposited) began record-keeping in a form of East Midland English, which became the written standard of English.
  • 1476

    William Caxton

    William Caxton brought printing to England, thus promoting literacy throughout the population.
  • 1485

    Henry Tudor

    Henry Tudor became king of England, ending thirty years of civil strife, called the War of the Roses, and introducing 118 years of the Tudor dynasty.
  • 1497

    John Cabot

    John Cabot sailed to Nova Scotia, foreshadowing English territorial expansion overseas.