Awesome was created in 1598 England, meaning something that inspires "Awe" (feeling of reverance/amazement... alternatively also meant fear which is less used). Awe + Some connected.
Its "Early modern English" - around the same period as Shakespeare and the King James Bible The oldest meaning of "awesome" is "something which inspires awe", but the word is also a common slang expression in English. As the original meaning of awesome has become somewhat antiquated in general use, the term awe-inspiring is now generally used for the same meaning.