Despite dialectal variation, which is found in any widespread language, the languages of Spain, France, Portugal, and Italy retained a remarkable unity in phonological forms and developments, bolstered by the stabilising influence of their common Christian (Roman Catholic) culture. It was not until the Moorish conquest of Spain in 711 cut off communications between the major Romance regions that the languages began to diverge seriously. ☆ Word & Phrase! ☆ bolster: 복돋우다, 강화하다 it was not until: ~가 되어서야, ~의 때가 되어서야