Here's a breakdown:
* Latin: The official language of the Roman Empire, spoken throughout its vast territory.
* Roman Empire's Decline: As the Roman Empire declined, Latin evolved into various regional dialects.
* Regional Dialects: These dialects developed into distinct languages, each influenced by the local languages and cultures.
* Romance Languages: These languages are called "Romance" because they are descended from the "Roman" language, Latin.
Think of it like this:
* Parent Language: Latin
* Children Languages: The Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Romanian, Catalan, etc.)
So, the name "Romance" reflects their ancestry and their connection to the Roman Empire.