History of English Language

By epham01
  • 43

    Romans Invade Britain

    Romans Invade Britain
    Roman occupation of Britain under Emperor Claudius, beginning the Roman rule of Britain
  • 410

    Roman Empire Falls

    Roman Empire Falls
    The Roman Empire begins to collapse and the Romans withdraw from Britain to protect their homeland
  • 450

    Anglo-Saxon Settlement- Germanic language merges into Old English

    Anglo-Saxon Settlement- Germanic language merges into Old English
    After the Romans withdrew from Britain, the Britons were attacked by the Picts and by Scots from Ireland. Germanic tribes (Angles and Saxons) arrive in Britain to assist the Britons and claim territory, and eventually settle into Britain.
  • 597

    Christian Missionaries arrive to Britain

    Christian Missionaries arrive to Britain
    The arrival of Christian Missionaries infuses Latin into
    Old English
  • Jan 1, 800

    Viking Invasion

    Viking Invasion
    The Scandinavians begin to settle in Britain and Ireland and they merge action words into Old English
  • Jan 1, 1066

    Norman Conquest

    Norman Conquest
    Some of the original Britons (after the Romans left) who fled to Normandy, France decide to return and claim back the land. William of Normandy leads the invasion and is crowned King of England and requires for all businesses and politics to be converted into French. The French language slowly merges into Old English
  • Jan 1, 1337

    The Hundred Years War

    The Hundred Years War
    The Hundred Years War between England and France leads to the loss of almost all of England's French possessions. English natives become victorious and English becomes the acceptably spoken language.
  • Jan 1, 1388

    Chaucer publishes The Canterbury Tales

    Chaucer publishes The Canterbury Tales
    Geoffrey Chaucer composes The Canterbury Tales in Middle English
  • Jan 1, 1450

    Gutenberg invents the printing press

    Gutenberg invents the printing press
    Johannes Gutenberg develops the printing press which allows books and other forms of text to be published and the spread of English language
  • William Shakespeare writes his first plays

    William Shakespeare writes his first plays
    With the advent of Shakespeare's writings, he develops new words and phrases into the English language as he needs them, typically known in the upper class.
  • The King James Version of “The Bible” is published

    The King James Version of “The Bible” is published
    The King James version of "The Bible" is the first English translation of "The Bible", greatly influencing the development of the written language.
  • Johnson publishes Dictionary of the English Language

    Johnson publishes Dictionary of the English Language
    Samuel Johnson attempts to standardize the spelling and pronunciation of the most common words
  • Oxford Dictionary

    Oxford Dictionary
    Lexicographers begin working on the Oxford English Dictionary, which tool 41 years to complete
  • First E-mail was sent

    First E-mail was sent
  • Creation of the Internet

    Creation of the Internet
    The internet was created and now language changed through type and speech