The motivations for the promotion of English:
Printing was invented in Europe in the 15th century, which meant that works could be widely distributed, in a way inconceivable before. It was expensive for printers to set up, so they had to maximise their clientele and make as much profit as possible. Printers therefore translated classics into local languages, opening up the market to the huge population that could not read Latin, Greek or French.
The period known as “early modern” was formed in the sixteenth & seventeenth centuries. This was a time of great change in Europe, economically and politically and when autonomous states were formed each with their own “national” language, and when many states of Europe, including England, made the transition from medieval to modern. These European states wanted an efficient language that could be used for all national purposes.
The origins of this period are known as “The Renaissance”, started in Italy in the fifteenth century, when scholars rediscovered the classics of the Greeks & Romans.
Another important factor in the promotion of English was, when Henry VIII broke from Rome in 1534 & declared himself head of the English church. This created a new scientific climate, gave the monarchy more power & demoted the clergy. There was a conflict between Roman Catholics & Protestants for many years, and promoted Protestant “Englishness” and a sense of communal identity protecting them from the outside world. To enhance independence Henry ordered the Bible to be translated from Latin into English & this was, in fact, the start of many more publications in English rather than Latin.
