When the Roman Empire collapsed, trade was disrupted. It was no longer safe to use the roads that the Romans had built because there was no longer a central government in Rome to protect traders. This destroyed economic centers and stopped money from circulating around Europe.

Those who once lived in the cities of the Roman Empire were forced to flee into rural areas because cities were being abandoned and destroyed. Many moved to the countryside.

With the destruction of cities came the destruction of all the amenities of life in the city. This included the destruction of schools, libraries, and centers of learning. It was more difficult for children to be formally educated once the population shifted into the countryside.

In a Roman city, it was easy to find a tutor for your children, but once you fled with your family your options were limited.

Once the Western Roman Empire collapsed, the use of Latin as the official language collapsed with it. The invaders that moved into the peninsula brought their own languages and dialects.

When the Western Roman Empire collapsed, so too did its government and laws. The Laws of the Twelve Tables no longer existed. Western Europe was very divided up, and no uniform set of laws existed. People began seeking safety among local leaders and nobles that lived in the countryside.

The collapse of the Roman Empire marks the beginning of a period that is known by many names: The Dark Ages, The Middle Ages, and The Medieval Ages. This was a turbulent 1,000 year period when civilization in Europe reorganized itself. The Dark Ages would end with the beginning of the Renaissance in the 15th century.