Classical literature

Classical literature, the literature of ancient Greece and Rome (see Greek literature; Latin literature). The term, usually spelled “classical,” is also used for the literature of any language in a period notable for the excellence and enduring quality of its writers’ works. In ancient Greece such a period extended from about 500 to 320 bce. The Golden Age of Rome ran from about 70 bce to 18 ce. French literature of the second half of...