Vulgar Latin refers to the colloquial form of Latin spoken by the common people of the Roman Empire. Unlike Classical Latin, which was used in formal writing and literature, Vulgar Latin evolved through everyday speech and varied significantly across different regions, leading to the development of the Romance languages. As the Roman Empire expanded, Vulgar Latin absorbed influences from local languages and dialects. This linguistic evolution contributed to the emergence of languages such as Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese, showcasing the rich diversity that stemmed from this once-unified form of communication.