Language origins are notoriously difficult to pinpoint. With the case of Italian, however, the route from the beginning to the modern language we know today is direct (and recent) enough that the path is still fairly visible.

This is an origin story with humble beginnings in the colloquial speech of a largely illiterate population, the famous verses of a Tuscan poet, and a patriotic effort to help unify a young nation. All roads lead to Rome, but our journey starts there.