Following the end of the western Roman empire around 500 AD, Europe entered a new era of history. This period became known as the "Middle Ages". It lies between the Roman period and about the fourteen hundreds.
The Roman empire left behind many legacies, including the Latin language and a large network of roads. The Christian religion also continued to grow and spread. However, the breakdown of Roman rule brought great changes for the people of Europe. Many small kingdoms developed.
Along with changes in government, the end of the Roman Empire also brought about economic changes in Europe. Trade declined, after which ownership of land came to mean wealth and power. Large estates owned by wealthy nobles were called manors. Workers, called serfs, became bound to work on the manors. Serfs had little more freedom than slaves. Unlike slaves, however, serfs could not be bought or sold.