TED-Ed: A brief history of Spanish | Ilan Stavans

The video explores the evolution of the Spanish language, starting from the Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, which led to the development of regional languages. Over time, influences from the Visigoths, Umayyad Caliphate, and the adoption of Castilian as the official language in 1492 shaped Spanish. The language spread to the Americas during colonization, incorporating indigenous words. French influence in the 18th century and independence movements in the 19th century further impacted Spanish. Today, Spanish is a global language, maintaining unity despite regional variations.

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