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<span style="font-family:sans-serif; font-size:120%;">[[wikipedia:Italian_language#Lingua_franca|Italian language - Lingua franca]] | Wikipedia</span> | <span style="font-family:sans-serif; font-size:120%;">[[wikipedia:Italian_language#Lingua_franca|Italian language - Lingua franca]] | Wikipedia</span> | ||
<mark>Starting in late medieval times in much of Europe and the Mediterranean, Latin was replaced as the primary commercial language by Italian</mark> language variants (especially Tuscan and Venetian). These variants were consolidated during <mark>the Renaissance with the strength of Italy and the rise of humanism and the arts</mark>. | <mark>Starting in late medieval times in much of Europe and the Mediterranean, Latin was replaced as the primary commercial language by Italian</mark> language variants (especially Tuscan and Venetian). These variants were consolidated during <mark>the Renaissance with the strength of Italy and the rise of humanism and the arts</mark>. | ||
During that period, <mark>Italy held artistic sway over the rest of Europe. It was the norm for all educated gentlemen to make the Grand Tour, visiting Italy</mark> to see its great historical monuments and works of art. It thus <mark>became expected to learn at least some Italian</mark>. <mark>In England, while the classical languages Latin and Greek were the first to be learned, Italian became the second most common modern language after French, a position it held until the late 18th century when it tended to be replaced by German</mark>. John Milton, for instance, wrote some of his early poetry in Italian. | During that period, <mark>Italy held artistic sway over the rest of Europe. It was the norm for all educated gentlemen to make the Grand Tour, visiting Italy</mark> to see its great historical monuments and works of art. It thus <mark>became expected to learn at least some Italian</mark>. <mark>In England, while the classical languages Latin and Greek were the first to be learned, Italian became the second most common modern language after French, a position it held until the late 18th century when it tended to be replaced by German</mark>. John Milton, for instance, wrote some of his early poetry in Italian. | ||