Final answer:
True. The Romans did spread the Latin language throughout Europe and Africa as they expanded their territory, and the language's influence continued long after the fall of the Western Roman Empire due to the Roman Catholic Church's use of Latin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Romans spread the Latin language throughout Europe and Africa as they gained political power in these areas is true. Roman expansion began as early as the city-state period of Rome and extended during the time of the Republic and the Empire. They introduced Latin to regions including the entire Mediterranean basin and as far north as England. Over time, Latin evolved into the Romance languages we know today such as Spanish, French, and Italian. Additionally, Latin remained the intellectual and liturgical language across Europe, utilized by the educated elite and the Roman Catholic Church.
Despite the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century CE, Latin's influence persisted due to the Church's predominance. The Roman Catholic Church continued to use Latin in liturgies and ceremonies until 1965 and maintained much of the Roman cultural legacy. The fall of Rome did not mark the end of Latin's influence; instead, Latin shifted from the vernacular to the language of educated discourse across Europe.