Although Roman power had been decaying for centuries, the final fall came in 476 A.D. when Odoacer took power in the Eternal City.  The people of western and northern Europe were without leadership.  Rome had controlled security, politics, and economics across the empire for hundreds of years.

     To replace this central hub of power, European society was organized around communities called manors led by strong willed individuals.  These positions of power became heriditary and the ruling families of Europe eventually governed entire nation states.  The only central source of power was the young Roman Catholic Church, which supported the kings as God's choice (Divine Right) and which was supported in turn by these kings.  In this way, the Church became extemeley powerful

     The period last until Circa 900, and it represents a time of reorganization.  The fuedal class system developed throughout this phase of European History.  This was also the beginning ot the Viking Age, when Norse warriors and traders sailed the Baltic and North Seas in search of wealth.  

     In 610, a new religion formed in the old Holy Land as well.  The faith of Islam became, and remains a driving force in world history to this day.