Editing Latins (section)

==Antiquity==
{{Main|Latins (Italic tribe)}}

{{further|Latin League|Romanization (cultural)}}[[File:Volsci.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Map of 5th century-BC [[Old Latium|Latium]] (''Latium Vetus'') and surrounding regions in central [[Italy]] that were eventually annexed by Rome to form "New Latium". The [[Alban Hills]], a region of early Latin settlement (from {{circa|1000&nbsp;BC}}) and the site of the ''Latiar'', the most important Latin communal festival, are located under the "U" in {{sc|latium}}. The region's two main lakes, Nemi and Albanus, are visible under the "I". The leading Latin city-states of Rome, Tibur ([[Tivoli, Lazio|Tivoli]]), Praeneste ([[Palestrina]]), [[Ardea, Lazio|Ardea]] and [[Gabii]] are shown.]]

The Latins were an [[Italic peoples|ancient Italic people]] of the [[Latium|Latium region]] in [[central Italy]] (''Latium Vetus'', "Old Latium"), in the 1st millennium BC. Although they lived in independent city-states, they spoke a common language ([[Latin]]), held common [[Roman mythology|religious beliefs]], and extended common rights of residence and trade to one another.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ancient Rome - Latin League, Republic, Empire {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/ancient-Rome/The-Latin-League |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en }}</ref> Collectively, these Latin states were known as the [[Latin League]].

A rupture between [[Roman Republic|Rome]], one of the Latin states, and the rest of the Latin League emerged as a result of the former's territorial ambitions. The Latin League fought against Rome in the [[Latin War]] (340-338 BC), which ended in a Roman victory. Consequently, some of the Latin states were incorporated within the Roman state, and their inhabitants were given full [[Roman citizenship]]. Others became Roman allies and enjoyed certain privileges.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ancient Rome - Latin League, Republic, Empire {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/ancient-Rome/The-Latin-League |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en }}</ref>

The [[Roman Empire]] would go on to dominate the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] region for the next several centuries, spreading the Latin language and Roman culture. The Latin-speaking [[Western Roman Empire]] ended in AD 476, while [[Byzantine Empire|the Greek-speaking eastern half]] survived on until 1453.