Here's a simplified breakdown of the journey:
1. Latin as the Base: Roman influence brought Latin to the Iberian Peninsula. However, the Latin spoken by ordinary people (Vulgar Latin) differed from the formal, literary Latin used in official documents and by the elite.
2. Evolution and Divergence: As Roman rule weakened and the empire fell, Vulgar Latin continued to evolve independently in different regions of the peninsula. This led to the development of distinct dialects, some of which eventually formed the basis for modern Romance languages like Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, and Romanian.
3. The Influence of Germanic Tribes: Around the 5th century AD, Germanic tribes like the Visigoths invaded the Iberian Peninsula, bringing with them their languages. This led to the incorporation of some Germanic words and influences into the evolving dialects.
4. The Birth of Castilian: By the 10th century, a dialect spoken in the northern region of Castile began to emerge as a dominant language. This dialect, known as Castilian, gradually spread throughout the peninsula, becoming the language of the burgeoning Spanish kingdom.
5. The Reconquista and Expansion: The Reconquista, the long process of Christian reconquest of Spain from the Moors (Muslim rulers), played a crucial role in shaping the Spanish language. As Castile's power grew, so did the influence of Castilian.
6. Standardization and Modern Spanish: The Spanish language was standardized during the 15th and 16th centuries, largely due to the work of scholars and writers. The rise of Spain as a global power in the 16th century helped spread Spanish to the Americas and other parts of the world.
In summary: Spanish evolved from Vulgar Latin, influenced by Germanic languages, and shaped by historical events like the Reconquista. Its journey from a regional dialect to a global language is a testament to the complex and dynamic nature of language evolution.