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Which four periods are used to divide ancient Latin literature?
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Ancient Latin literature is traditionally categorized into four distinct stylistic periods:1
- Early writers: Spanning from the beginnings of Latin literature until 70 BCE. This period saw the introduction of Greek influence, with figures like Livius Andronicus establishing early dramatic and epic traditions.12
- Golden Age: Extending from 70 BCE to 18 CE. This era is noted for the perfection of the Latin language as a literary medium and is often subdivided into the Ciceronian period (70–43 BCE) and the Augustan Age (43 BCE–18 CE).13
- Silver Age: Covering the years 18 CE to 133 CE. While considered secondary to the Golden Age, this period produced significant works in satire, history, and rhetoric, characterized by a more cosmopolitan and psychologically perceptive tone.14
- Later writers: This final category encompasses the literary output following the Silver Age.1