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500 A.D.

The Roman Empire split into East and West Rome. The emperor Constantine was the one to split the Roman Empire into two empires as to better deal with crises. But, this split also weakened the Roman Empire. East Rome, poorer than the West, fell apart as it did not have the rich West to back it up anymore. East Rome succumbed to riots and food shortages.

Meanwhile, West Rome was transformed. It was renamed the Byzantine Empire, and this empire flourished under its emperors for another 1000 years. Some argue that the Byzantine empire was part of the Roman Empire, and Rome lasted 1000 longer than believed. But, eventually, that empire fell too.

Now, with no major empire controlling Europe, all trade routes were unprotected. Rome's soldiers protected travellers bringing goods, but without Rome, travellers were often robbed. This brought trade to a grinding halt. Without trade, people slowly began to stay within their own hometown, and innovation and trade declined. All that was needed for a free market economy did not exist anymore.

So, Feudalism began.

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14y ago

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