The Renaissance period witnessed a significant transformation in the field of linguistics, as scholars sought to understand ancient texts, including Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. This endeavor was not merely theological but aimed at bridging divides between conflicting Protestant and Catholic factions in Europe.
Rudolf Pfeiffer, a notable German scholar, linked the 'spiritual decline' of Europe to the deterioration of language, asserting, 'it was with language that the spiritual and moral renaissance had to begin.' Pfeiffer, a refugee from Nazi Germany, played a crucial role in advancing the study of classics in Britain.
The intellectual community of the Renaissance, referred to as the 'republic of letters,' included prominent figures such as Erasmus and Scaliger, who primarily wrote in Latin. Other influential scholars included Justus Lipsius, who edited works of Tacitus and Seneca, and Hugo Grotius, known as the father of international law. In England, Thomas More contributed to this scholarly network with his work 'Utopia.'
Contemporary scholars now approach ancient languages with a nuanced understanding that was not present in Scaliger's time. While quantitative methods have enhanced our comprehension of ancient economies and societies, the decline of knowledge in ancient languages poses challenges for fully appreciating early modern writers like Milton and Hobbes, whose works were often composed in Latin.
For instance, the 'Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum' publishes over 2,000 entries annually, documenting newly discovered Greek inscriptions. Additionally, a 2013 discovery by a Warwick University academic revealed a medieval Arabic translation of a lost Greek text on agricultural management, demonstrating early economic theories based on supply and demand.
One significant work is Jane Lightfoot's edition of the 'Apotelesmatica,' a series of astrological poems attributed to an ancient Egyptian priest. This text serves as both a vital resource for ancient astrology and an insight into the social dynamics of Roman Egypt.
The decline of ancient languages raises concerns about the loss of cultural understanding. As Michail Gasparov, a Russian classicist, stated, the study of ancient languages is 'a service of understanding.'