1066 BCE is an important date for the history of English because:     King Aelfred unified England under the Heptarchy, and then decreeing a common language among the kingdoms     William the Conqueror defeated English forces at the battle of Hastings, making French the language of government and business and suppressing English.     the Vikings established the Danelaw this year, which brought Scandinavian influence to English, notably the 'sk' phoneme and the '-ing' suffix for progressives.      The Crusades began, taking focus off national politics and language.

King Aelfred unified England under the Heptarchy, and then decreeing a common language among the kingdoms

William the Conqueror defeated English forces at the battle of Hastings, making French the language of government and business and suppressing English.

the Vikings established the Danelaw this year, which brought Scandinavian influence to English, notably the 'sk' phoneme and the '-ing' suffix for progressives. 

The Crusades began, taking focus off national politics and language.