* Origin: Latin originated in the Latin region of ancient Italy, specifically around the city of Rome. This region was inhabited by the Latins, a group of Italic tribes.
* Evolution: The Latin language evolved from a common ancestor shared with other Italic languages, such as Oscan and Umbrian. It gradually became the dominant language in the Roman Empire due to Rome's political and military dominance.
* Spread: As the Roman Empire expanded, Latin spread across vast territories, becoming the language of administration, law, and commerce. It eventually influenced the development of many other languages in Europe.
Therefore, rather than being "discovered", Latin emerged and evolved within a specific geographical and cultural context.