The literature of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire written in the Latin language. The periods of Latin literature are conventionally divided into "Golden" Latin, or Golden Age, which covers approximately the period from the start of the first century BC up to the mid-first century AD, and Silver Latin, which covers the remainder of the Classical period. Anything after the mid-second century comes under the blanket description of "late" Latin literature, and tends to be studied for the light it sheds on the development of Latin into the Romance languages rather than for its literary merit (though there are exceptions, eg. Augustine of Hippo.)
Table of contents |
2 Golden Age 3 Silver Latin 4 Latin Literature in the Late Antique period 5 Mediæval and Christian Latin literature |
Early Latin literature
Poetry
Comedy
Golden Age
Poetry
Prose
Historiography
Silver Latin
Poetry
Prose
Theater
Satire
Historiography
Latin Literature in the Late Antique period
Mediæval and Christian Latin literature
See also: Mass (liturgy); Mass (music)