The fall of the Roman Empire significantly transformed European history by leading to the fragmentation of western Europe into smaller kingdoms, initiating the Medieval period or Middle Ages. This collapse facilitated the rise of feudalism, whereby local lords gained power at the expense of a centralized authority. The disintegration of Roman trade networks resulted in economic regression and localized, agrarian economies. Additionally, the vacuum of power allowed for the spread of Christianity as a unifying cultural force. The fall set the stage for the later emergence of nation-states and the eventual Renaissance, reshaping the continent’s political and cultural landscape.