Here's a simplified timeline:
* Around 449 AD: Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes) invaded Britain, bringing their languages (Old English) to the island.
* 1066: The Norman conquest brings Norman French, influencing the English language.
* 1485: The Wars of the Roses end, bringing a period of stability and leading to the development of Early Modern English (Shakespeare's time).
* 18th Century: The rise of science, printing, and global trade influenced the standardization of English.
Therefore, English is a constantly evolving language with roots in different historical periods and influences.