Here's why:
* Latin was the language of the Roman Empire: The Roman Empire spread across much of Europe, and Latin was used for administration, law, commerce, and everyday communication.
* Latin evolved into different dialects: As the Roman Empire declined and fell, the various regions of the empire developed their own distinct versions of Latin.
* These dialects eventually became separate languages: Over time, these regional dialects diverged enough to be considered separate languages. These languages, descended from Latin, are called "Romance languages."
Some of the most well-known Romance languages include:
* Spanish
* Portuguese
* French
* Italian
* Romanian
* Catalan
* Occitan
So, while Latin itself is no longer spoken, its influence lives on in the many languages that evolved from it.