The fall of ancient Rome in 476 AD had a profound impact on European society, marking the transition from classical antiquity to the Middle Ages. This collapse led to political fragmentation, as the Western Roman Empire disintegrated into various kingdoms and feudal systems emerged. Trade declined, cities shrank, and literacy rates fell, resulting in a cultural and economic regression often referred to as the Dark Ages. However, this period also set the stage for the rise of the Byzantine Empire in the East and the later Rebirth of learning during the Renaissance. Overall, Rome's fall reshaped social structures and influenced the trajectory of European development.