How did the Latin language become part of Rome in the first place? They were the only part of that region of the world where people spoke a Romance language, the first one, how did it get there?

Answer 1

Latin has been the recorded language of the Romans since c. 509 BCE. The name for the language that the Romans spoke is synonymous with the province of Rome called Latium.

University of Oregon , Mapping Ancient History has a great map to show the expansion of the Romans. The map needs flash. I believe the website might have a website soon.

https://mappinghistory.uoregon.edu/english/EU/EU02-01.html

Also online Encyclopedia Britannica has a comprehensive discussion on the topic, a great lingistic map and some examples of other languages script (Faliscan, Venetic Oscan ,Umbrian)

Prior to the Roman dominance of the Italian peninsula (Apennine Peninsula) modern Italy) the languages spoken were Latin, Faliscan, Osco-Umbrian, South Picene, and Venetic languages. Other dominant languages spoken were Greek (in Magna Graecia) and Etruscan

Map showing the approximate extent of the Italic and neighbouring languages about 250 BCE.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Italic-languages/media/297434/2089