Introduction to Latin Exploration

Introduction To Latin Exploration

SALVETE AD PAGINAM LATINAM!

The Latin language is the extinct Indo-European language of ancient Rome and its Empire. It was also adopted across medieval Europe as the language of education, government, law, the Church, the aristocracy, and cultured society.

With the spread of Roman power Latin was carried to every part of the known ancient world and became the dominant tongue of western Europe.

It was the language of scholarship and diplomacy until the 18th century and of the Roman Catholic liturgy until the late 20th century.

The Latin language was not native to Italy but was brought into the Italian Peninsula in prehistoric times by Italic peoples who migrated from the north. Latin is a member of the Italic subfamily of the Indo-European languages; among non-Italic Indo-European languages, it is related especially closely to Sanskrit and Greek and to the Germanic and Celtic subfamilies. In Italy, Latin was originally the dialect of the region around Rome.

In this course, we will explore the Latin language and the societies who spoke it. We will focus more directly on the culture and language of Ancient Rome and the spread of the language throughout the west.

Latin exploration is designed to "discover" the culture of the Roman and Latin peoples. The influence of the Latin language permeates every romance language and culture throughout Europe. Therefore, this exploration will help you in other language studies. Latin has had an effect on the English language and on Anglo-American culture. Although the language is extinct, we will investigate its importance, effect and dominance not only throughout the Ancient Roman Empire but the force of its meaning in the present. And of course, it's influence upon the English speaking peoples.

Let's explore!