Place the languages in the order in which they arrived in Europe.
It is important to note that the arrival of languages in Europe is a complex and dynamic process, and the order in which they arrived can vary depending on various factors such as migrations, historical events, and cultural exchanges. However, providing a general order based on historical information, the languages can be placed as follows:
1. Basque: The Basque language is believed to be one of the oldest living languages in Europe, and it has been spoken in the Basque Country region in northern Spain and southwestern France for thousands of years.
2. Celtic languages: The Celtic languages, including Gaulish, Brythonic (Old Welsh, Cornish, and Breton), and Goidelic (Old Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx), were spoken in different parts of Europe as early as 1200 BCE. Celtic languages are still spoken in parts of the British Isles and Brittany.
3. Greek: Greek, in its various dialects, arrived in Europe around the 12th century BCE, when ancient Greeks colonized many Mediterranean regions. Greek has had a significant influence on European history, culture, and language development.
4. Latin: Latin, the precursor to the Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Romanian, etc.), was spoken primarily in ancient Rome and gradually spread throughout Europe as the Roman Empire expanded. The arrival of Latin in Europe can be dated to the 8th century BCE.
5. Germanic languages: The Germanic languages, including Old Norse, Gothic, Old English, and Old High German, arrived in Europe around the 1st century CE through the migrations and expansions of Germanic tribes. These languages later developed into various modern Germanic languages spoken in different parts of Europe today.
6. Slavic languages: Slavic languages, such as Old Church Slavonic, Old East Slavic, Old West Slavic, and Old South Slavic, were spoken in eastern and central Europe from around the 5th century CE. Slavic languages have undergone significant developments and diversification, resulting in many modern Slavic languages spoken in Europe.
7. Romance languages: Derived from Latin, the Romance languages, including Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Romanian, developed in different regions of the Roman Empire over the centuries. The precise timeline for their arrival in Europe varies, but they emerged as distinct languages between the 6th and 9th centuries CE.
8. Other languages: Various other languages have arrived in Europe through different historical events. For example, Arabic and Turkic languages arrived during the Islamic conquests in the 7th and 8th centuries CE, respectively. Additionally, during the colonial era, European colonial powers introduced their languages (such as English, Dutch, French, and Spanish) to different parts of the world, subsequently impacting linguistic diversity in Europe.