Enjoy this detailed tour of the histories of Portuguese and Spanish. By the end, you'll see both these wonderful languages in a new light that will enrich the rest of your learning journey.

Catalan and Spanish are distinct languages, but they have a lot of similarities. This means that if you're familiar with one of these languages, then learning the other will not only be easier, but also worthwhile, as an understanding of both will give you a deeper appreciation of the history and culture of the Iberian Peninsula.

Though we currently have no way of knowing when or which group of people spoke the first words, there are various theories about the development of language.

By the time Dante made reference to the langue d’oc in 1304, it had suffered persecution at the hands of the French. Today, the various dialects that make up the langue d’oc are collectively referred to as Occitan. It is still spoken in southern France. There’s also communities in Monaco, Italy, and Catalonia, with the total number of speakers thought to be around 790,000.