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When did Europeans started using Latin language?

It's not quite accurate to say Europeans "started" using Latin. Latin was the language of the Roman Empire, which encompassed much of Europe from the 1st century BC to the 5th century AD. So, during that period, Latin was the official language of administration, law, commerce, and education throughout the Roman Empire.

Here's a breakdown of how Latin usage evolved:

* Roman Empire: From the 1st century BC to the 5th century AD, Latin was the official language of the Roman Empire. This meant it was spoken and written by everyone, from emperors to commoners, across all parts of the empire.

* Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages: After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, Latin continued to be used as the language of the Church, scholarship, and law in many parts of Europe. However, it began to evolve into different dialects and eventually became the basis for various Romance languages, such as French, Spanish, and Italian.

* Medieval Period and Renaissance: Latin remained the language of learning and scholarship throughout the Middle Ages. Even after the Renaissance, Latin continued to be used in universities and scientific writing.

* Modern Times: While Latin is no longer a widely spoken language, it continues to be used in some contexts, such as:

* Religious contexts: The Catholic Church still uses Latin for some liturgical purposes.

* Scientific and academic contexts: Latin terms are still used in many scientific fields and in legal terminology.

* Classical studies: Students of classical literature and history still learn Latin.

Therefore, it's not about Europeans "starting" to use Latin, but rather about the gradual evolution of Latin from a spoken language to a language of learning and scholarship, and its influence on the development of many European languages.

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