By the 3rd quarter of the 6th century, the mighty Roman Empire broke into two: – the western part and the eastern part.

The western part

It had its capital at Rome. It was overwhelmed by the Slave and Germanic tribesmen coming from the side of Russia and Germany.  After ravaging and plundering the territories of the old Roman Empire, these tribes settled down in different parts of Europe.

This not only changed the old population’s character as well as the languages and the pattern of governments but also laid foundations of many of the modern European nations.

The Eastern part

Its capital was Byzantium and Constantinople. This Byzantine Empire included Eastern Europe modern Turkey, Syria, Egypt, and North Africa. Contrary to the Western Catholic church headquartered in Rome, the Eastern Greek Orthodox church differed in belief and ritual.

The large and flourishing Byzantine Empire continued to trade with Asia after the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West. It created traditions of government and culture, many of which were later absorbed by the Arabs when they overran Syria and Egypt.

Further, it acted as a bridge between the Greco-Roman Civilization and the Arab World. The empire disappeared finally in the middle of the 15th century when Constantinople fell to the Turks.