* Rise of Vernacular Languages: The emergence and increasing use of regional languages (like Italian, Spanish, French, etc.) throughout the Roman Empire, as well as in areas influenced by the Roman Empire, ultimately led to the displacement of Latin. People started speaking and writing in their local tongues, especially for everyday communication.
* Political Fragmentation of the Roman Empire: The decline of the Roman Empire in the 5th century CE led to political instability and the emergence of numerous smaller kingdoms. This contributed to the fragmentation of a unified linguistic sphere and encouraged the development of regional languages.
* Migrations and Invasions: Waves of migrations and invasions by various groups (e.g., Germanic tribes) into Roman territories brought new languages and cultural influences, further diminishing the dominance of Latin.
* Decline of Education and Literacy: With the collapse of the Roman Empire, access to education and literacy declined, particularly in the Western Roman territories. This hampered the preservation and transmission of Latin, allowing vernacular languages to fill the gap.
While these factors combined to create a gradual decline, the rise of vernacular languages is often considered the most significant driving force. The development of these local languages, alongside the weakening of the Roman political and cultural influence, created a fertile ground for their adoption and eventually led to the replacement of Latin in everyday usage.