The Migration Period, also called the Barbarian Invasions, was an era of large movements of peoples in Europe in the 4th to 6th centuries. It is often dated from about 375 CE, when the arrival of the Huns from the east pushed Germanic peoples such as the Goths toward the Roman frontier, to 568 CE, when the Lombards entered Italy. Groups including Visigoths, Vandals, Franks, Angles, Saxons and Ostrogoths settled within the territory of the Western Roman Empire, which finally collapsed in 476. Their kingdoms replaced Roman rule in Gaul, Spain, North Africa, Britain and Italy. The changes in language, law and religion from this time laid the foundations of medieval Europe, though historians debate how violent and how abrupt the process was.
Before and after
- 13 November 354 CEBirth of Augustine of Hippo
- 360 CEBirth of Hypatia
- from March 363 CE to July 363 CEJulian's Persian expedition
- 371 CEBattle of Bagavan
- from 375 CE to 568 CEMigration Period
- 9 August 378 CEThe Goths destroy a Roman army at Adrianople
- 27 February 380 CEChristianity becomes the state religion of Rome
- 381 CEFirst Council of Constantinople
- 386 CEOrigins of Sümela Monastery
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- c. 2,560 BCEConstruction of Great Pyramid of Giza
- c. 1,200 BCEIron Age
- 6th century BCEConstruction of Parthenon
- from January 27 BCE to January 395 CERoman Empire
- 81 CEConstruction of Colosseum
- 11 May 330 CEConstantine dedicates Constantinople
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 4th century.