Over 2,500 years ago, in the region of Latium near modern Rome, the Latin language began its remarkable evolution. As the language of the powerful Roman Empire, Latin was more than a mere tool for communication; it was the heartbeat of a culture that would leave an indelible mark on the world. But how does a language die, and what does it mean for a language to be considered 'dead'? We will unravel these mysteries, examining the gradual transformation of Latin as it ceased to be a native language and evolved into the various Romance languages like Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian.
