Classical Latin
The expression Classical Latin has been used by scholars in at least two different ways. It may be used to mean either
the Latin language as used by educated Romans from the earlier part of the first century BCE (c 75 BCE) to the end of the reign of the first emperor, Augustus, in 14 CE or, more broadly,
the Latin language as used by educated Romans from the earlier part of the first century BCE (c 75 BCE) to the end of the second century of the Christian era.
When the expression Classical Latin is understood in the second, broader way, the period may be subdivided into
a Golden Age, which corresponds to the period of Classical Latin on the narrower of the two interpretation above, and
a Silver Age , which extends from the death of Augustus in 14 CE to the end of the second century of the Christian Era.
Golden Age authors include the general and statesman Julius Caesar (100-44 BCE), the orator, politician, and philosopher Cicero (106-43 BCE), the historian Livy (59 BCE-19 CE) , and the poets Vergil (70-19 BCE), Horace (65-8 BCE) and Ovid (43 BCE-17 CE); while Silver Age authors include the historians Tacitus (c55-c120 CE) and Suetonius (c70-c140 CE), the satirist Juvenal (c60-c140 CE), the orator Quintilian (c37-c100 CE), author of an influential work on oratory, Pliny the Elder (c23-79 CE), author of Naturalis historia (Natural History), and his nephew Pliny the Younger (c61-c113 CE), famed for his letters.
As the names imply, the finest works of literature were thought to have been composed during the Golden Age and to provide models of Latin which others were expected to follow. (It is this version of Latin that is usually taught in schools and universities in the UK.) In contrast, the literature of the Silver Age was felt to be marred by mannerisms and eccentricities of style and vocabulary.
For information about the pronunciation of Classical Latin see Pronunciation of Classical Latin, and for examples of Latin words and phrases used in English see the category 'Latin words and phrases'.
