Step 1: Understand the historical context.
Latin was the dominant language of the Roman Empire and remained a lingua franca in Europe for centuries. The correct estimate for when Latin was widely used as a world language is approximately 700 years ago.
Step 2: Analyze the options.
- (A) 600: Incorrect. Latin was not widely used around 600 years ago, as its peak usage occurred earlier.
- (B) 800: Incorrect. Latin was already on the decline by 800 AD in terms of its universal use.
- (C) 700: Correct. About 700 years ago, Latin was still widely used in Europe for scholarly and religious purposes.
- (D) 900: Incorrect. By 900 AD, Latin was losing its influence, and vernacular languages began to rise.
Step 3: Conclusion.
Latin was a world language about 700 years ago.