Latin, a classical language from the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages, originated from the language spoken in the district of Latium, with Rome as its capital. The language evolved over centuries and is best exemplified by works from its 'Golden Age' around 2000 years ago, when Roman literature flourished. The Latin alphabet has roots in the Etruscan and Greek alphabets, which ultimately trace back to the Phoenician alphabet.

1. LATIN LANGUAGE
What is Latin?

2. WHAT IS LATIN?
• Latin (lingua latīna)
is a classical
language belonging
to the Italic branch
of the Indo-
European languages.
• The Latin alphabet
is derived from the
Etruscan and Greek
alphabets, and
ultimately from the
Phoenician alphabet.

3. LATIUM
• If you will look at
the map of Italy you
will find near the
middle of the
peninsula and
facing the west
coast a district
called Latium, and
Rome its capital.
• Latium
Pronounciation:
Lā´shĭ-ŭm

4. MEANING
The Latin language, meaning
the language of Latium, was
spoken by the ancient
Romans and other
inhabitants of Latium.
Latin was the name applied
to it after the armies of Rome
had carried the knowledge of
her language far beyond its
original boundaries.

5. CHANGE
As the English of
to-day is not quite
the same as that
spoken two or
three hundred
years ago, so Latin
was not always
the same at all
times, but changed
more or less in
the course of
centuries.

6. THE GOLDEN AGE OF ROMAN LETTERS
• The sort of Latin you are
going to learn was in use
about 2000 years ago.
• The period has been
selected because the
language was then at its
best and the greatest works
of Roman literature were
being produced.
• This period, because of its
supreme excellence, is
called the Golden Age of
Roman letters.