Latin was the dominant language of scholarship, literature, and official communication throughout Europe during the Renaissance. It was considered the language of learning and was used by scholars, writers, and artists to communicate their ideas and findings.
Vernacular languages like Italian, French, Spanish, English, and German gained increasing importance during the Renaissance. Writers and artists started using these languages to reach a wider audience and to express their ideas in a more accessible and relatable way.
Here are some examples:
* Leonardo da Vinci wrote in Italian.
* William Shakespeare wrote in English.
* Michelangelo wrote in Italian.
* Erasmus wrote in Latin.
* Niccolò Machiavelli wrote in Italian.
So, while Latin remained the dominant language of scholarship, the use of vernacular languages increased significantly during the Renaissance, reflecting the growing importance of national identities and the desire for wider accessibility of literature and art.