Not much is
known about the origin of English literature. It is a true fact that the
British are a people of mixed-breed and blood. English literature is a “coat of many
colours”. “To its making” Compton
Rickett argues “has gone the
prismatic fancy of the Celt, the sombre passion of the Teuton, the golden
gaiety of France, Scandinavian greys, Italian purples.” Let us discuss
about the important timeline and useful events in the following table:
Time
|
Events
Took Place/ Literary Works
|
3000
B.C.
|
Probably
Proto-Indo-European started living across the Baltic Ocean
|
1000
B.C.
|
Among
their various branches Celtic proved themselves as a distinct race and
started dwelling in different parts of Europe of what is now called Spain, France, Germany,
Austria, eastern Europe, and the British Isles.
|
600
B.C.
|
Coming
of the first Celtic invasion. They are known as Goidels and Gaels.
|
300
B.C.
|
Coming
of the Brythons
|
55
B.C.
|
The
first expedition of Julius Caesar, the great Roman Emperor on British Isles.
|
54
B.C.
|
His
second expedition.
|
43
A.D.
|
Conquest
of Britain by Claudius (the fourth Roman Emperor). Roman colony of
"Britannia" established.
|
410
A.D.
|
First
Germanic tribes arrive in England from the lowlands on the other side of the
North Sea./ Departure of the Romans from Britain.
|
410-600
A.D.
|
Settlement
of three great Germanic tribes- Angles, Saxons and Jutes along with some
Frisians in Britain.
|
450
A.D.
|
Traditional
date of the coming of the Saxons to Britain.
|
547
A.D.
|
Glidas’s
History
|
597
A.D.
|
Introduction
to Christianity with St. Augustine’s arriving in Kent.
|
600-800
A.D.
|
Rise of
three great kingdoms politically unifying large areas: Northumbria, Mercia,
Wessex. Supremacy passes from one kingdom to another in that order.
|
731
A.D.
|
Bede’s
Ecclesiastical
History of the English People.
|
793
A.D.
|
First
Viking raid; sacking of Lindisfarne
|
840-870
A.D
|
Viking
incursions grow worse and worse. Large organized groups set up permanent
encampments on English soil. They slay King of Northumbria and start ruling
creating a Viking Kingdom called ‘Jorvik’. Wessex remains as a final
Anglo-Saxon Kingdom in Britain.
|
867
A.D.
|
Danes’
conquer Northumbria.
|
860
A.D.
|
Anglo-Saxon
Chronicle begun.
|
871
A.D.
|
Vikings
move against Wessex after losing battles. Alfred becomes king of Wessex.
|
871-876
A.D.
|
During
his reign of 15 years, peace and prosperity established in England. He won
many battles. For this reason he is called “Alfred the Great”.
|
899
A.D.
|
Death
of Alfred
|
925
A.D.
|
Athelstan
became king. Anglo-Saxon reached the summit of power. Athelstan re-conquered York
from the Vikings, and even conquers Scotland and Wales.
|
10th
Century
|
Danes
and English started living together peacefully. Plenty of Scandinavian loan
words entered into the English language, like the personal pronoun ‘they’,
‘them’, ‘their’ etc.
|
937
A.D.
|
Battle
of Brunanburh: Victory of Athelestan.
|
978
A.D
|
Athelred
became king at the very premature stage (11 years). Aethelred has proved to be a
weak king, who does not repel minor Viking attacks. After losing in the hand
of Viking, Aethelred flees to Normandy, across the channel.
|
991
A.D.
|
The
Battle of Maldon: Byrthnoth defeated by the Danes. King Sveinn of Denmark
became the king. Sveinn
sets up a Norse court at the new capital of Viking England, Jorvik.
|
1016
A.D.
|
Sveinn's
young son Cnut crowned king of England. Cnut decides to follow in Alfred's
footsteps, aiming for a peaceful and prosperous kingdom. Encourages
Anglo-Saxon culture and literature. Even marries Aethelred's widow Emma,
brought over from Normandy.
|
1042
A.D.
|
Accession
of Edward the Confessor, son of Aethelred and Emma. Edward is a pious, monkish man. Saxon period
restored.
|
1049
A.D.
|
Westminster
Abbey begun.
|
1050
A.D.
|
Edward
grows a strong partiality for his birthplace Normandy, a duchy populated by the
descendents of Romanized Vikings. Especially fond of young Duke William of
Normandy. Edward is dominated by his Anglo-Saxon earls, especially powerful
earl Godwin. Godwin's son, Harold Godwinson, becomes de facto ruler as Edward
takes less and less interest in governing.
|
1066
A.D.
|
The
landmark period for beginning a new era, The Middle English Period. Norman
Conquest. Battle of Hastings between Harold, the final Saxon King and
William, the Duke of Normandy. William becomes the victor. Anglo-Norman
period started.
|