Beginning in the third century BCE, the Romans conquered the Iberian peninsula. This period gave rise to several regional languages in the area that's now Spain, including Castilian, Catalan, and Galician. One of these would become Spanish— but not for another 1,500 years. Those years tell the origin story of what's become a global modern language. Ilan Stavans traces the evolution of Spanish. [Directed by Hernando Bahamon, Globizco Studios, narrated by Ilan Stavans, music by Manuel Borda].

Ilan Stavans:  A brief history of Spanish

 A brief history of Spanish

Over 75% of modern Spanish derives from Latin, showcasing a linguistic evolution spanning centuries from the Roman Empire.

Arabic’s influence on Spanish, with over a thousand words, highlights the rich, multicultural layers embedded in the language.

Spanish unifies 415 million people across 21 countries, a testament to its adaptability and enduring global significance.