Spanish was developed centuries before French
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Latin is the language from which both French and Spanish evolved. French and Spanish, along with other Romance languages, developed from Latin during the Roman Empire. It is difficult to say definitively which language came first between French and Spanish, as they both evolved alongside each other from Latin.
Portuguese evolved first from Galician-Portuguese in the 12th century in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Spanish, as a distinct language, emerged later in the 13th century in the central region of the Iberian Peninsula.
Spanish first emerged as a distinct language around the 9th century AD, evolving from Vulgar Latin spoken by the Roman conquerors in the Iberian Peninsula. This process continued through the medieval period, solidifying Spanish as the language of the region.
Spanish became the dominant language in the Americas due to the Spanish colonization in the 16th century. Spanish explorers, conquistadors, and settlers spread the language across the region, establishing it as the primary language through institutions, education, and trade. Additionally, intermarriage between Spanish colonizers and indigenous populations also contributed to the language's diffusion.
English language, which uses the English alphabet, came later than Spanish. Spanish developed from Latin, which was used in the Iberian Peninsula since Roman times, while English evolved from the Germanic languages spoken by tribes in what is now England.
The French language first arrived in Africa through colonization in the 19th century. It remains in Africa today due to the lasting influence of French colonial rule, continued political and economic ties between France and African countries, and the educational and cultural exchange programs that promote French language learning.