Old Italian refers to the classical Italian language that was spoken prior to the 14th century. It is a period in Italian history that is characterized by elaborate, complex, and rich literature. Other synonyms of Old Italian include classical Italian, archaic Italian, and medieval Italian. The language developed during this period is considered to be the ancestor of the modern Italian language. Old Italian has its roots in Latin and the vernacular of the Italian peninsula. Although Old Italian is no longer in current use, it has greatly influenced modern literature, music, and arts, and can still be appreciated and studied to this day.