Final answer:
Following the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE, Europe split into various Germanic kingdoms, leading to a decentralized feudal system. The Roman Church influenced the emerging medieval culture, and the period of political fragmentation is known as the Middle Ages.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the collapse of the Roman Empire in 476 CE, Europe transitioned into a series of fragmented kingdoms ruled by Germanic warlords. These new rulers were often recognized as vassals by the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, though they operated with significant autonomy. As the centuries progressed, the church played a critical role in guiding not only the religious but also the political landscape of Europe, notably through promoting Christianity and influencing various kings.
The earliest of these Germanic kingdoms were administered by figures such as the Frankish king Clovis, and rulers of the Ostrogothic and Visigothic realms. The political structure evolved over time into a feudal system where lesser nobles swore allegiance to more powerful lords in exchange for protection, resulting in a highly decentralized form of governance. The exchange of military service and land cultivated a social hierarchy grounded in landholdings and vassalage.
Europe's trajectory after the fall of the Western Empire saw a blend of Roman and Germanic cultures, a phenomenon seen in the acculturation of successor kingdoms which adopted elements of Roman bureaucratic organization and Christianity, further shaping the medieval society. This period, known as the Middle Ages, facilitated the birth of numerous small political entities with varying degrees of allegiance to larger powers, including the surviving Byzantine Empire.