Latin

Latin was the language of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire. Although now an extinct language with very few fluent speakers, Latin has had a major influence on many languages that are still thriving, and continues in areas such as law, medicine, and botany. Romance languages are descended from Vulgar Latin, and many words adapted from Latin are found in modern languages, including English. Its literature and oratory inspired Western writers throughout history. Its study is a key to the understanding of Christianity and Western civilization.