What an interesting statement and you base all of this on what? Latin was taught more generally during that period of history than during our current time and even now you can take classes as I did as a supplement to my science courses. I fail to understand your point.

@Surfpirate We are not talking Europe, many cowboys couldn't even speak english. Let me educate you a bit about the west. The messenger that was sent by custer to get assistance by reno when questioned by the officer of the actual battle situation couldn't explain the battle conditions. By the way doc holiday did not killed johnny ringo in real life. The only beef between them was ringo was banging holiday's whore big nose kate. But go on with your western fantasies created by hollywood, bet you... you believe nobody surrendered in the alamo.... go on. You liked the movie, fine, but it was as real as roy rogers and the lone ranger.

Close, the precursor to Italian is Latin.