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For almost one-thousand years, Rome conquered and brought order and law to most of the known world. lthough the concept of the Roman Empire and Republic being absolutely benevolent to its entire population is highly inaccurate, Rome did spread several ideas and principals which are essential to modern government and day to day life. Rome did its part in shaping the modern world, but all good things must come to an end. One of the most severe and lasting impacts Rome had on Europe was, in fact, the empire's own demise. The fall of Rome not only shook the world then, but had profound effects on the next thousand years of western European history.

To understand the effects of the Roman Empire's fall, one must first understand why the Empire fell at all. This topic has been discussed and debated by innumerable scholars through the ages and historians still have no definitive answer. However, there are a few factors which most scholars agree at least played a role in the empire's collapse. The first is economic crisis. A large portion of Rome's economy was based on slave labor. In fact it is estimated that, at its peak, 25% of Rome's population were slaves. These slaves were obtained from the soldiers and resistance forces of conquered nations ("Roman Slaves"). Therefore, when Rome was no longer able to conquer, the supply of slaves dried up. Since Rome had relied on human labor for so many years, it had not pursued technological innovation in the field of agriculture (Dutch, "Roman Science and Technology"). Without cheap labor and slaves to work the fields, the economy collapsed (Damen, "The Fall of Rome: Facts and Fictions"). Additionally, the Roman welfare system, which supported the thousands of Romans who were out of work due to the availability of slaves, taxed the Roman coffers and economy heavily. Corruption also helped bring about the economic collapse that plagued the late Roman Empire. An unknown author who lived around 386 A.D. wrote, " ...wherewith the arts of [greediness] afflict the provinces, comes the appalling greed of the provincial Governors, which is ruinous to the taxpayers' interests " ("On Military Matters"). It is clear that this author, as well as many other Romans, must have realized that the opulent lifestyle of the Roman elite was bringing the country to its knees.

The second main reason for Rome's fall is not the archetypal "barbarians outside the gate" but, instead, "barbarians" (any non-Roman) inside the gates. As the empire grew larger, the native Roman population grew smaller in proportion to the size of the Empire. Rome was forced to hire barbarian mercenaries to defend the borders (Heather, "The Fall of Rome"). Of course these troops were not of the same quality as the legionaries of Rome's golden ages, nor were they loyal to Rome. The generals and commanders who did command the mercenaries' loyalty were then able to command Rome itself. This partially led to the rampant corruption and volatile political climate that also helped to bring about the downfall of Rome.

Due to the many problems that plagued the Empire in its later years, the Roman Empire was carved up by barbarians and separated into many smaller kingdoms. Perhaps the most immediate effect of Rome's fall was the breakdown of commerce and trade. The miles of Roman roads were no longer maintained and the grand movement of goods that was coordinated and managed by the Romans fell apart. It is clear that the quality of goods throughout Europe decreased significantly after the fall of Rome. Before the collapse, one might find high quality pottery from Africa on the table of Roman citizens in Italy. Brian Ward-Perkins, a historian and archaeologist, notes that post-Roman pottery was " ...rare and poor in quality-of badly selected clay... The resulting vessels are porous and very friable- many would score low marks as first efforts in pottery at an infants' school."

Also note that the barbarian takeover itself caused economic problems. Jordanes, an ancient historian, mentioned how frequently the "barbarians" would sack settlements as they marched (Jordanes,"The Origin and Deeds of the Goths"). The economic collapse and coupled with these foreign invasions meant that much of the classical Roman architecture was lost. The fancy stone of the Roman era was, unfortunately, replaced with simple wooden structures.

The fall of Rome also paved the way for another major part of Europe's history: feudalism. When Rome fell, Europe fell into a state of constant warfare. The new kings not only wanted to tax their populous, but also wanted them to fight during times of war. This practice was, of course, unpopular (Heather, "The Fall of Rome"). The new kings allowed the landowners to raise their own small armies that the kings could call upon to defend the kingdom. This system also provided local protection from anyone who might want to pillage the land, such as the Vikings or Magyars. This eventually developed into the system of feudalism that dominated medieval Europe.

Feudalism helped prevent another strong centralized government, like that of Rome, from forming in Europe for hundreds of years. Although landowners swore loyalty to the king, those landowners would further subdivide and distribute their lands to people who swore loyalty to them. Naturally this created a decentralized government that was prone to internal conflict. Feudalism also further weakened trade and economic development in Europe. Serfs who worked the land were bound to the land, and forbidden to create economic infrastructure without their lord's permission. Since serfs had to pay taxes and tolls to use their lord's infrastructure and resources, it was not in their lord's best interest to give them the privilege to develop the land. (Kip, "Feudalism"). The European economy of the middle ages was nothing compared to that of the Roman era. However, there was a significant improvement and strengthening of religious bodies after the fall of Rome.

At first, Christianity was banned in Rome and Christians were persecuted by many emperors such as Nero and Diocletian. However, in 313 AD, Christianity became legal under the rule of Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor ("Roman Emperors Persecute Christians"). Using his influence as Emperor, Constantine established processes and standards that provided stability to the early church. Under his protection, and due to the various forms of favoritism he showed to the church, Christianity prospered under Constantine. Being a man skilled in politics and administration, Constantine also influenced the internal working of the church in order to make it more stable. For example, the standard of calling religious councils in which church leaders would come together and debate major theological and doctrinal issues was Constantine's idea (O'Gorman and Faulkner 305). Although the church's bureaucratic and highly political nature would eventually lead to the decline of the Catholic Church, it did help the church survive and prosper after the fall of Rome.

When the law and order that Rome provided disappeared, the people of Europe began to look to the church for guidance. Some religious leaders, such as the Pope, basically acted like monarchs. Other lower religious leaders acted as advisors to kings and even had managerial roles in various kingdoms (Hatch, "The Organization of the Early Christian Churches"). Without Rome's advocacy of polytheism and established government, the church not only became the ultimate source of authority in the newly converted European kingdoms, but also became somewhat entwined in the political affairs of these countries(Damen, "The Fall of Rome: Facts and Fictions"). This paved the way for the Church's domination of medieval Europe.

Although the fall of Rome did allow Christianity to prosper, it created many problems for medieval Europe. After all, it would be almost a millennium before any other civilization could rival the size, complexity and sophistication of Rome. Until then, Europe would suffer from an intellectual drought and a lack of growth and prosperity. The fall of Rome was necessary in order for the world to be what it is today, but its fall was still, in many ways, a tragedy.

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The Fall of Rome and its Effects on Post-Roman and Medieval Europe

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For almost one-thousand years, Rome conquered and brought order and law to most of the known world. lthough the concept of the Roman Empire and Republic being absolutely benevolent to its entire population is highly inaccurate, Rome did spread several ideas and principals which are essential to modern government and day to day life.

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About 500 CE, much of western Europe was left without a strong centralized government due to the breakdown of the Roman Empire. With little organized resistance, Germanic invaders raided western…

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19 years in a cave: The hermit of Moldova | Focus on Europe

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The Rise and Fall of Europe EXPLAINED In 5 MINUTES | Europe History

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The Spread of Christianity: Part 1 (30-1000)

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After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages began in Western Europe. During this time, Europe remained connected to the rest of the world but encountered many problems, including the Black Death. During the High Middle Ages, European trade began to flourish, and European culture was revived.

The Carolingian Dynasty:
The Carolingian Dynasty of the Frankish Kingdom ruled from 737. It was founded by Charles Martel, who was famous for leading the Frankish military into the Battle of Tours in 732 to end Islamic expansion into Europe. Charles Martel's son, Pepin, ruled from 752 to 768 and became more powerful by convincing the Pope to declare his right to the throne. The Carolingian Dynasty supposedly ended in 888 with the death of Charles the Fat.

Did you know?

Charles Martel's grandson, Charlemagne, was named Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by the pope in 800.

Invasions - Vikings, Magyars:
After the fall of the Roman Empire, invaders began to attack Western European kingdoms. The Scandinavian Vikings came from the north and traveled in long ships that enabled travel down far inland rivers. These vikings, from present day Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, invaded settlements in England, Ireland, France, and Belgium. The Magyars came form the east, originally from Central Asia. They attacked the Byzantine Empire after the fall of Rome and settled in present day Germany, Italy, and France. There was little political stability in Europe after the fall of the Carolingian Dynasty in 888, until the creation of the Holy Roman Empire in 962.

Did you know?

-Vikings did not wear horned helmets.

-Viking women enjoyed basic rights.

-Vikings were active in the slave trade.

Feudalism began as a result of a need for political stability in Western Europe. In Feudalism, the nobles held land in exchange for military service and work from their vassals, who were tenants of the nobles. The peasants were required to live on the lord's land and provide work for military protection and housing. Feudalism was dominantly used in Europe from 800 to 1200. It was a mutually beneficial relationship for all free people. It also created a code of chivalry to maintain etiquette and to resolve conflict. Women did not have many rights due to the fact that they were protected under the code and were given a minimal role in society. The manorial system, which was incorporated into Feudalism, provided economic self sufficiency and defense. Manors were villages which included structures such as a church, a blacksmith, a shop, a mill, and homes for serfs, also known as peasants. Serfs could not leave the land and could not marry or travel without permission. In exchange for protection, they harvested crops and provided labor. Social classes under Feudalism formed a social hierarchy. The Kings were at the top, followed by nobles and landlords, who were protected by knights. Underneath the landlords were the serfs, who worked the land.

The Christian Church experienced the Great Schism in 1054, which created two branches, the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox. The Roman Catholic Church was dominant in Western Europe and was extremely influential and unifying during the Middle ages. The Church established the first European universities in Europe, and became centers of education. The Church additionally held great power in the feudal system, and went hand in hand with the Emperor. The Catholic Church had a hierarchy of bishops, who owed allegiance to the pope, the supreme bishop in Rome.

The European Christians fought to keep Muslims out of Europe, and also attempted to reclaim the Holy Land, in Palestine. This was the holy land of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Christian access was reduced, and social and economic tensions began to rise, leading to a series of European military campaigns known as the Crusades between 1095 and the 1200's. In the First Crusade, the Christians conquered Jerusalem, but shortly after, Muslim forces, under Saladin regained control. After the second and third crusades, economic tensions rose in Constantinople, and Christians raided the city. Muslim forces drove the Christians out of Jerusalem, and prevailed in Levant. The Crusades left a legacy of bitterness between Muslims and Christians, but also lead to an increase in trade.

Major Effects:

- Changed political system from Feudalism to Monarchy in Europe.

- Facilitated trade along the Mediterranean and in the Fertile Crescent.

- Increased the authority of the king.

-Agricultural Change: As a result of improvement in agricultural methods, the population grew in Europe. The agricultural surplus also lead to the development of more towns and markets that could operate more frequently than just the holidays.

-Hanseatic League: In the 13th century, cities in Northern Germany and Scandinavia created an alliance called the Hanseatic League. They controlled trade in the North and Baltic Seas, and monopolized trade on goods like timber, grain, leather, and salted fish. The league ended in the mid 17th century when governments became powerful enough to shut down the monopoly.

-Guilds: Guilds, associations of craftspeople and merchants, originated in European towns in the Middle Ages. They regulated rules for apprenticeships, helped families of killed workers, and had some degree of control over the workplace. Due to their economic influence, guilds could pressure the local lord or monarch.

-Universities: European universities set up colleges, boardinghouses for scholars, which were often divided based on the students' nationalities. Cambridge, Oxford, and the University of Paris were founded in the 12 century, and students there could study liberal arts and theology.

-Scholasticism: Thomas Aquinas, in the 13th century, tried to reconcile Aristotelian knowledge with Christian faith, a system of study called Scholasticism. He claimed that one could remain faithful while thinking logically.

-Northern and Southern Renaissance: The increase in trade, and the improvements in agriculture led to a revival of classic Greek and Roman literature, art, civic virtue, and culture, known as the Renaissance. A large part of the Renaissance was humanism, the focus on the individual. The Southern Renaissance began in Italy and Spain and was still largely focused on religion. The Southern Renaissance led to an increase in art and humanistic thinking. The Northern Renaissance began when ideas and spirit from the Southern Renaissance spread north. There was an increased interest in understanding the physical world, and the human body. Like in the Southern Renaissance, humanism played a large role in the Northern Renaissance, which was less focused on religion.

Europe developed greatly between 600 and 1400, and underwent many changes. Feudalism and the Manorial system were used, which created distinct social classes. The Christian church underwent the Great Schism in 1054, which created the two branches known as the Roman Catholic Church, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Crusades also took place, which facilitated trade and led to the abandonment of Feudalism and the rise of Monarchy. The Crusades were followed by a series of economic and agricultural changes that started the Renaissance, or the revival of Greek and Roman culture, and the increased interest in Humanism.

The Carolingian Dynasty:
The Carolingian Dynasty of the Frankish Kingdom ruled from 737. It was founded by Charles Martel, who was famous for leading the Frankish military into the Battle of Tours in 732 to end Islamic expansion into Europe. Charles Martel's son, Pepin, ruled from 752 to 768 and became more powerful by convincing the Pope to declare his right to the throne. The Carolingian Dynasty supposedly ended in 888 with the death of Charles the Fat.

Did you know?

Charles Martel's grandson, Charlemagne, was named Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by the pope in 800.

Invasions - Vikings, Magyars:
After the fall of the Roman Empire, invaders began to attack Western European kingdoms. The Scandinavian Vikings came from the north and traveled in long ships that enabled travel down far inland rivers. These vikings, from present day Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, invaded settlements in England, Ireland, France, and Belgium. The Magyars came form the east, originally from Central Asia. They attacked the Byzantine Empire after the fall of Rome and settled in present day Germany, Italy, and France. There was little political stability in Europe after the fall of the Carolingian Dynasty in 888, until the creation of the Holy Roman Empire in 962.

Did you know?

-Vikings did not wear horned helmets.

-Viking women enjoyed basic rights.

-Vikings were active in the slave trade.

Feudalism began as a result of a need for political stability in Western Europe. In Feudalism, the nobles held land in exchange for military service and work from their vassals, who were tenants of the nobles. The peasants were required to live on the lord's land and provide work for military protection and housing. Feudalism was dominantly used in Europe from 800 to 1200. It was a mutually beneficial relationship for all free people. It also created a code of chivalry to maintain etiquette and to resolve conflict. Women did not have many rights due to the fact that they were protected under the code and were given a minimal role in society. The manorial system, which was incorporated into Feudalism, provided economic self sufficiency and defense. Manors were villages which included structures such as a church, a blacksmith, a shop, a mill, and homes for serfs, also known as peasants. Serfs could not leave the land and could not marry or travel without permission. In exchange for protection, they harvested crops and provided labor. Social classes under Feudalism formed a social hierarchy. The Kings were at the top, followed by nobles and landlords, who were protected by knights. Underneath the landlords were the serfs, who worked the land.

The Christian Church experienced the Great Schism in 1054, which created two branches, the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox. The Roman Catholic Church was dominant in Western Europe and was extremely influential and unifying during the Middle ages. The Church established the first European universities in Europe, and became centers of education. The Church additionally held great power in the feudal system, and went hand in hand with the Emperor. The Catholic Church had a hierarchy of bishops, who owed allegiance to the pope, the supreme bishop in Rome.

The European Christians fought to keep Muslims out of Europe, and also attempted to reclaim the Holy Land, in Palestine. This was the holy land of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Christian access was reduced, and social and economic tensions began to rise, leading to a series of European military campaigns known as the Crusades between 1095 and the 1200's. In the First Crusade, the Christians conquered Jerusalem, but shortly after, Muslim forces, under Saladin regained control. After the second and third crusades, economic tensions rose in Constantinople, and Christians raided the city. Muslim forces drove the Christians out of Jerusalem, and prevailed in Levant. The Crusades left a legacy of bitterness between Muslims and Christians, but also lead to an increase in trade.

Major Effects:

- Changed political system from Feudalism to Monarchy in Europe.

- Facilitated trade along the Mediterranean and in the Fertile Crescent.

- Increased the authority of the king.

-Agricultural Change: As a result of improvement in agricultural methods, the population grew in Europe. The agricultural surplus also lead to the development of more towns and markets that could operate more frequently than just the holidays.

-Hanseatic League: In the 13th century, cities in Northern Germany and Scandinavia created an alliance called the Hanseatic League. They controlled trade in the North and Baltic Seas, and monopolized trade on goods like timber, grain, leather, and salted fish. The league ended in the mid 17th century when governments became powerful enough to shut down the monopoly.

-Guilds: Guilds, associations of craftspeople and merchants, originated in European towns in the Middle Ages. They regulated rules for apprenticeships, helped families of killed workers, and had some degree of control over the workplace. Due to their economic influence, guilds could pressure the local lord or monarch.

-Universities: European universities set up colleges, boardinghouses for scholars, which were often divided based on the students' nationalities. Cambridge, Oxford, and the University of Paris were founded in the 12 century, and students there could study liberal arts and theology.

-Scholasticism: Thomas Aquinas, in the 13th century, tried to reconcile Aristotelian knowledge with Christian faith, a system of study called Scholasticism. He claimed that one could remain faithful while thinking logically.

-Northern and Southern Renaissance: The increase in trade, and the improvements in agriculture led to a revival of classic Greek and Roman literature, art, civic virtue, and culture, known as the Renaissance. A large part of the Renaissance was humanism, the focus on the individual. The Southern Renaissance began in Italy and Spain and was still largely focused on religion. The Southern Renaissance led to an increase in art and humanistic thinking. The Northern Renaissance began when ideas and spirit from the Southern Renaissance spread north. There was an increased interest in understanding the physical world, and the human body. Like in the Southern Renaissance, humanism played a large role in the Northern Renaissance, which was less focused on religion.

Europe developed greatly between 600 and 1400, and underwent many changes. Feudalism and the Manorial system were used, which created distinct social classes. The Christian church underwent the Great Schism in 1054, which created the two branches known as the Roman Catholic Church, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Crusades also took place, which facilitated trade and led to the abandonment of Feudalism and the rise of Monarchy. The Crusades were followed by a series of economic and agricultural changes that started the Renaissance, or the revival of Greek and Roman culture, and the increased interest in Humanism.

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After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages began in Western Europe. During this time, Europe remained connected to the rest of the world but encountered many problems, including the Black Death. During the High Middle Ages, European trade began to flourish, and European culture was revived.