The Qur’an An Abiding Wonder
The Qur’an —The Prophet’s Miracle
~ 69 ~
SOCIAL UPHEAVALS
The example of Latin shows how social upheavals
affect languages. Though in latter days Italy became
the centre of Latin, it was not originally a product of
that country. Around the 12th century BC, during
the Iron Age, many central European tribes spread
out into surrounding regions. Some of them,
especially the Alpine tribes, entered Italy and
settled in and around Rome. Their own language
mixed with the language of Rome, and that was
how Latin was formed. In the third century BC
Lubus Andronicus translated some Greek tales and
dramas into Latin, thus making it a literary
language. The Roman Empire was established in
the first century BC, and Latin became the official
language. The strength of Latin was even further
reinforced by the spread of Christianity. With the
support of religious and political institutions, and
backed by social and economic forces, Latin
continued to spread until eventually it came to
cover almost the whole of ancient Europe. At the
time of St. Augustine, Latin was at its peak, and
right up to the Middle Ages it was considered the
main international language.
