Historical Background of the Middle English Period

The historical development of a language is a continuous, uninterrupted process without sudden breaks or rapid transformations. Therefore any periodisation imposed on language history by linguists, with precise dates, might appear artificial. There are some periodizations of the history of English language.

The problem of periodization. The role of the Middle English Period in the history of English language.
The influence of the Scandinavian invasions.
The Norman Conquest.
Early Middle English dialects. Neighborhood of three languages in England.
Written records of the M. E. P.
Late M. E. P.