Medieval Latin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Medieval Latin |
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Carmina Cantabrigiensia, Medieval Latin manuscript
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| Native to | Many small states |
| Region | Most of Europe |
| Era | Developed from Late Latin between 4th and 10th centuries; replaced by Renaissance Latin from the 14th century |
| Language family |
Indo-European
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| Early forms: |
Old Latin
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| Writing system | Latin alphabet |
| Official status | |
| Official language in | De facto in most Christian states during the Middle Ages |
| Linguist List | lat-med |
Europe, 1000 AD
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Medieval Latin was the form of Latin used in the Middle Ages. It was mostly used by scholars and as the liturgical language of the medieval Roman Catholic Church, but also as a language of science, literature, and administration.
Despite the clerical origin of many of its authors, Medieval Latin should not be confused with Ecclesiastical Latin. There is no real consensus on the exact boundary where Late Latin ends and Medieval Latin begins. Some scholars have their surveys of it begin with the rise of early Christian Latin in the middle of the 4th century, others around the year 500.
Contents
Important medieval Latin authors
4th-5th centuries
6th-8th centuries
- Gildas (d. c. 570)
- Venantius Fortunatus (c. 530-c. 600)
- Gregory of Tours (c. 538-594)
- Isidore of Seville (c. 560-636)
- Bede (c. 672-735)
9th-10th centuries
- Ratherius (890-974)
- Thietmar of Merseburg (975-1018)
- K. P. Harrington, J. Pucci, and A. G. Elliott, Medieval Latin (2nd ed.), (Univ. Chicago Pres, 1997) ISBN: 0-226-31712-9
Images for kids
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An illuminated manuscript of a Book of Hours contains prayers in medieval Latin.
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The Prüfening dedicatory inscription from Bavaria, dated to 1119, composed in medieval Latin. It was printed rather than carved.
See also
In Spanish: Latín medieval para niños
