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450
c. 450-500 AD – Anglo-Saxon Migration:
Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes) migrate to Britain, marking the beginning of Old English. -
731
c. 731 AD – Bede's "Ecclesiastical History
The historian Bede writes about the early history of England and its language. -
800
c. 800-1000 AD – Old Norse Influence
Viking invasions introduce many Norse words into English (e.g., "sky," "knife," "they") -
1066
1066 AD – Norman Conquest
French becomes the language of the ruling class, influencing Middle English with thousands of French words. -
1387
c. 1387-1400 AD – Geoffrey Chaucer writes "The Canterbury Tales"
One of the most famous works in Middle English. -
1476
1476 AD – Printing Press in England
William Caxton introduces the printing press, helping to standardize English spelling and grammar. -
1500
1500-1650 (16th-17th century) – The English Renaissance
Major expansion of vocabulary due to Latin and Greek influences. -
1604 AD – First English Dictionary
"Table Alphabeticall" by Robert Cawdrey is published. -
1611 AD – King James Bible
A major influence on English prose and expression. -
1755 AD – Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
A major step in standardizing English spelling and definitions. -
1795 AD – Lindley Murray's English Grammar
One of the first major English grammar books. -
19th Century – Industrial Revolution & British Empire Expansion
English spreads worldwide and absorbs words from many languages. -
1928 AD – Oxford English Dictionary Completed
One of the most comprehensive dictionaries of the English language. -
20th-21st Century – Rise of American English & Global English
Media, technology, and the internet spread English worldwide, making it a global lingua franca.