Romance languages are a group of languages that evolved from Latin, the language of the ancient Romans. They include major languages such as Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian. These languages share similar vocabulary, grammar, and syntax due to their common origin. The spread of Romance languages occurred primarily through the expansion of the Roman Empire. As the empire conquered new territories, Latin was introduced and gradually transformed into various regional dialects. Over time, these dialects developed into distinct languages, each influenced by local cultures and languages.