late Roman period

The late Roman period, roughly from the 3rd to 5th centuries AD, was a time of significant change for the Roman Empire. It faced internal instability, economic difficulties, and external invasions by barbarian tribes. During this time, the empire gradually divided into Eastern and Western regions, with the West weakening and eventually falling in 476 AD. The Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantine Empire, continued for nearly a thousand more years. This period saw shifts in political power, military struggles, and cultural transformations that laid the groundwork for medieval Europe.