Simplify the following text for a Grade 10 native English-speaking person.
Original: Historically , when Europe was dominated by the Mediterranean region ( i.e. the Roman Empire ) , everything not near this sea was termed Northern Europe , including Germany , the Low Countries , and Austria .
Simplified: In earlier eras , when Europe was dominated by the Mediterranean region ( i.e. the Roman Empire ) , everything not near this sea was termed Northern Europe , including Germany , the Low Countries , and Austria .