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What is happening in Central Europe in 500CE
This region, once dominated by the Goths and Sarmatians, was transformed by the coming of the Huns from the east. These were for a time the dominant group here. Their coming pushed the Geman tribes on the Roman frontier – Goths, Vandals, Suevi, Burgundians, Alemani, Franks – across en masse into Roman territory. Roman power in the west crumbled under this onslaught.
Because of this great migration, German speakers ceased to be the majority group in central Europe during the 5th century. Other tribes were absorbed into the Hun confederacy or, accepting Hun overlordship, expanded into areas vacated by the Germans. A people belonging to one language group in particular, the Slavs, have expanded, and it is in this period that they begin to predominate in eastern Europe.
Meanwhile, the Huns, after terrorizing the Roman empire for some years, have ceased to be a major power, and have in fact all but vanished, first weakened by internal squabbling and then disappearing amongst their former subjects.
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What else is happening in the rest of the world...
Britain history 500CE
The Roman province is no more, as is the Roman civilization which it nourished
Africa history 500CE
A powerful new kingdom is arising in Ethiopia, while in West Africa trade routes across the Sahara are developing
India and South Asia history 500CE
This period of India's history has seen the rise of the Gupta dynasty, under whom ancient Indian civilization reaches its peak
What else is happening in the rest of the world...
Europe history 30BCE
The Roman empire now rules much of Europe
Africa history 30BCE
North Africa is now part of the Roman empire, while in central Africa the Bantu expansion continues
India and South Asia history 30BCE
The Mauryan empire has vanished, and ancient India sees a new chapter in its history with invasions from Central Asia
East Asia: China, Korea, Japan history 30BCE
Under the Han dynasty, ancient Chinese civilization has expanded both its territory and its influence
What else is happening in the rest of the world...
Middle East history 200CE
One small part of the region, Judaea, has given birth to the new religion of Christianity, but has also seen the dispersal of the Jewish people from their homeland
Europe history 200CE
The Roman Empire has given much of Europe two centuries of peace and prosperity
Africa history 200CE
All of North Africa is now part of the Roman empire, while to the south the Bantu migration continues
India and South Asia history 200CE
The Kushana empire of ancient India is important to world history as a centre for the spread of Buddhism
East Asia: China, Korea, Japan history 200CE
The Han dynasty of China has dominated much of ancient East Asia for a long period of history - but not for much longer
history CE
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