Final answer:
The Roman Christian Church survived and thrived after the fall of the western Roman Empire, preserving much of Roman culture and learning. Its influence grew in Western Europe through the Middle Ages, maintaining Roman traditions and hierarchical structure long after the Empire's collapse.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Roman Christian Church did survive the period following the fall of the western Roman Empire. After the empire's collapse, the Church persisted as a central institution in Western Europe, uniting the region and preserving Roman culture, language, and learning. The Latin language continued to be used in Church liturgies and ceremonies well into the 20th century.
Christianity had significantly transformed Roman society after being embraced by emperors such as Constantine, who ended the persecution of Christians. By the 5th century, it had become the state religion. With the fall of Rome, the Church's power grew, and it played a pivotal role in shaping the formation of medieval European culture, absorbing and converting various groups and influencing the governance practiced by Germanic warlords.
The Roman Catholic Church, the direct descendant of the Roman Empire, continued to uphold many traditions and maintained a strict hierarchical order even during the Great Schism in 1054, which divided Christianity into western (Roman Catholic) and eastern (Orthodox) branches. The Roman Church, with its base in Rome, sustained and increased its influence across Europe during this period.