AD 1-400 Roman

Throughout the first four centuries AD half of this region of Europe was part of the Roman empire, the other half was not under Roman rule. The frontiers of the Roman empire in Europe became the Rhine and the Danube rivers. In this region, lands south of the Danube, including most of a large part of the Balkans were provinces of the Roman empire. So too was the land west of the Rhine. In these areas, native peoples became Romans. Cities, villas, money and other aspects of Roman life became well established.

Beyond the frontiers lived many different groups of peoples, regarded as Barbarians by the Romans. Trade, other contacts and wars with the Roman empire significantly changed these Iron Age societies even though they were not conquered by Rome. Many of these barbarian groups tried to cross into the empire for plunder or the find new homes. These threats meant a large part of the Roman army was permanently stationed along these frontiers. Ultimately, barbarian groups from the northern part of this region such as the Goths, Vandals, Franks and Saxons were successful in crossing the frontiers and carving out lands for themselves inside the former Roman empire.