Changes

We end this Lecture with a discussion of Asia in the Middle Ages, which was unaffected by both the Renaissance and the Reformation.  Asia had issues of its own.

We end this Lecture with a discussion of Asia in the Middle Ages, which was unaffected by both the Renaissance and the Reformation.  Asia had issues of its own.

But before we discuss the Renaissance the the weighty issues of the Reformation, this is the perfect time to pause for a moment and review the origin and development of the English language.  English is a relatively young language lacking in any origin in the ancient world.  It does not come from Sanskrit or Hebrew or Greek or Latin.  Recall that the Roman empire could never conquer the region of present-day Germany, and English is a Germanic Language within the Indo-European category of languages.  Let's learn about its history.

But before we discuss the Renaissance and the weighty issues of the Reformation, this is the perfect time to pause for a moment and review the origin and development of the English language.  English is a relatively young language lacking in any origin in the ancient world.  It does not come from Sanskrit or Hebrew or Greek or Latin.  Recall that the Roman empire could never conquer the region of present-day Germany, and English is a Germanic Language within the Indo-European category of languages.  Let's learn about its history.

== The History of the English Language ==

== The History of the English Language ==

The development of the English language is divided into three periods":  Old English (also called "Anglo-Saxon"), Middle English, and Modern English (which we speak today).  Germanic tribes settled in England as long ago as about the time when the Roman empire fell, around A.D. 450.  Old English developed and was used until shortly after the Norman conquest of 1066, when Latin began to cause improvements in Old English and it upgraded to medieval Middle English.  Modern English is considered to have begun shortly after the end of the Middle Ages in 1500.  

The development of the English language is divided into three periods:  Old English (also called "Anglo-Saxon"), Middle English, and Modern English (which we speak today).  Germanic tribes settled in England as long ago as about the time when the Roman empire fell, around A.D. 450.  Old English developed and was used until shortly after the Norman conquest of 1066, when Latin began to cause improvements in Old English and it upgraded to medieval Middle English.  Modern English is considered to have begun shortly after the end of the Middle Ages in 1500.  

A good dictionary will provide a date of origin of a word, and old dates are "13c" or A.D. 1200.  For example, the date of first use of the word "chase", meaning "the hunting of wild animals," is listed by Merriam-Webster dictionary as "13c".  More modern words, such as "homeschool", have more recent dates of first use, such as 1980 the case of "homeschool".

A good dictionary will provide a date of origin for a word, and old dates are "13c" or A.D. 1200.  For example, the date of first use of the word "chase", meaning "the hunting of wild animals," is listed by Merriam-Webster dictionary as "13c".  More modern words, such as "homeschool", have more recent dates of first use, such as 1980 in the case of "homeschool".

One can spend hours enjoyable learning about the history of human thought simply by looking at when words were first created for important concepts.  For example, by looking up the word "tyranny" in the dictionary we see that it was developed in the 14th century (1300s), which was about the time that feudalism was being replaced by nation-states in England and France.  There would have been no concept of "tyranny" under feudalism before that time.  One can piece together much of English history simply by reading a dictionary!

One can spend hours enjoyably learning about the history of human thought simply by looking at when words were first created for important concepts.  For example, by looking up the word "tyranny" in the dictionary we see that it was developed in the 14th century (1300s), which was about the time that feudalism was being replaced by nation-states in England and France.  There would have been no concept of "tyranny" under feudalism before that time.  One can piece together much of English history simply by reading a dictionary!

The oldest dates or origin are for numbers.  The number "six", for example, is listed as having an origin of "bef. 12c," which means before A.D. 1100.  That places the date of first use of simple numbers as before Middle English, and originating with Old English.

The oldest dates of origin are for numbers.  The number "six", for example, is listed as having an origin of "bef. 12c," which means before A.D. 1100.  That places the date of first use of simple numbers as before Middle English, and originating with Old English.

More generally, the study of the origin of a word is known as "etymology".  Some even specialize in the field of "linguistics", which includes all aspects of languages.  Beware, however, distortions in the field by those who insist that all languages are equal.  They also claim claim that all religions are equal in truth or value, and that is no more true for religion than it is for languages.  Every language has advantages or disadvantages, and the path of world history is in some ways the triumph of superior languages over inferior ones.

More generally, the study of the origin of a word is known as "etymology".  Some even specialize in the field of "linguistics", which includes all aspects of languages.  Beware, however, distortions in the field by those who insist that all languages are equal.  They also claim that all religions are equal in truth or value, and that is no more true for religion than it is for languages.  Every language has advantages or disadvantages, and the path of world history is in some ways the triumph of superior languages over inferior ones.

===Old and Middle English===

===Old and Middle English===

Middle English was an improvement due to the importation of Latin from Europe into England, at least among scholars.  John Wycliffe used Middle English when he did the first new translation of the Bible in nearly 1000 years.

Middle English was an improvement due to the importation of Latin from Europe into England, at least among scholars.  John Wycliffe used Middle English when he did the first new translation of the Bible in nearly 1000 years.

John Wycliffe was nearly 200 years ahead of "his time," meaning he was that far ahead of the Reformation that came later.  For that reason is called the "Morning star of the Reformation."<ref name="Wycliffe">http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/john-wycliffe.html</ref>  A brilliant scholar, Wycliffe developed his own views of Christianity and attracted a following of itinerant preachers known as the "Lollards".  Wycliffe simplified aspects of Christianity for peasants who otherwise had difficulties understanding it, such as developing a doctrine of the Lord's Supper in only twelve short sentences, and having his itinerant preachers teach that everywhere.  The chancellor of the University of Oxford pronounced some of Wycliffe's theories as heretical.  Wycliffe eventually criticized scholasticism, monasteries, and papacy, and became increasingly disliked by the English royal hierarchy.

John Wycliffe was nearly 200 years ahead of "his time," meaning he was that far ahead of the Reformation that came later.  For that reason he is called the "Morning star of the Reformation."<ref name="Wycliffe">http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/john-wycliffe.html</ref>  A brilliant scholar, Wycliffe developed his own views of Christianity and attracted a following of itinerant preachers known as the "Lollards".  Wycliffe simplified aspects of Christianity for peasants who otherwise had difficulties understanding it, such as developing a doctrine of the Lord's Supper in only twelve short sentences, and having his itinerant preachers teach that everywhere.  The chancellor of the University of Oxford pronounced some of Wycliffe's theories as heretical.  Wycliffe eventually criticized scholasticism, monasteries, and papacy, and became increasingly disliked by the English royal hierarchy.

At the time the Church prohibited new translations of the Bible, in order to maintain control and combat heresies.  Wycliffe died peacefully in 1384, without having been excommunicated by the Church or executed by the King.  He was blamed in England, however, for supposedly causing revolt by the peasants (such as the Peasants' Revolt of 1381).  After his death a Council of the Church reviewed Wycliffe's theories and declared most of them to be false or heretical, and as a result ordered that his buried bones be dug up and burned, and they eventually were.

At the time the Church prohibited new translations of the Bible, in order to maintain control and combat heresies.  Wycliffe died peacefully in 1384, without having been excommunicated by the Church or executed by the King.  He was blamed in England, however, for supposedly causing revolt by the peasants (such as the Peasants' Revolt of 1381).  After his death a Council of the Church reviewed Wycliffe's theories and declared most of them to be false or heretical, and as a result ordered that his buried bones be dug up and burned, and they eventually were.