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The Fall of the Roman Empire and its Legacy
An overview of how Roman rule ended in the western provinces, why historians still debate the causes, and what survived: law, Latin, the church and roads.
Empires and Wars
Rome and the Carolingians
How the Roman west gave way to new kingdoms and how Charlemagne empire later broke apart.
The Fall of the Carolingian Empire: A Medieval Decline
How Charlemagne's empire split after 843, why Viking and Magyar raids strained royal power, and how local lords and fortified castles took on greater authority.
The Fall of the Roman Empire: A Medieval Turning Point
How the Germanic successor kingdoms in Gaul, Spain, Italy and Africa took shape after Roman rule faded, and why the shift to the medieval world was gradual.
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The Byzantine Empire The eastern Roman state, its power, its legacy and its end at Constantinople. The Crusades Causes, campaigns and consequences of the crusading movement. The Crusader States The Latin lordships founded in the East and the fall of Jerusalem. Templars and Hospitallers The great military and charitable orders of the crusading world. The Hundred Years War The long English and French conflict and the Black Prince. Realms and Empires The Holy Roman Empire, the Ottomans and the dynastic wars of England. Era Overviews Broad looks at the medieval period and its themes of change. Ottomans and Iberia The early Ottomans, the fall of Constantinople and the Reconquista. Norman Conquests The Norman takeover of England and the later push into Ireland. City-States Self-governing medieval cities, from Italian republics to royal Paris. Rise of the Kingdoms How England, France, Burgundy and the Holy Roman Empire took shape. The Vikings Norse raiders, traders and settlers and their impact on Europe and England. Famous Battles and Sieges Individual clashes beyond Hastings and Agincourt and what each changed.