Barbarians in Western Europe were sacking the original capital, the city of Rome, and eventually will hasten the collapse of the western Roman Empire. The Roman Empire descends into a Futile system of government as it begins to break apart after the death of Constantine. Each mini Kingdom makes and breaks treaties with its neighbors. War is a constant companion through out the former Roman Empire. Walled Castles and small groups of knights protect the land owner.
Serfs work the land for the land owner and there is a thin margin between starvation and survival.
Life expectancy drops, illiteracy rises and life becomes increasing hard. Barefoot on the bare ice, so the blood followed. The arts falls under the control, supervision and authority of the Church. Secular works are no longer created. All works from the former Roman or Greek periods are considered pagan and craven.