In the late Italy what happened?

* The Western Roman Empire collapsed in 476 AD when the Germanic leader Odoacer deposed the last emperor, Romulus Augustulus.

*This event is traditionally seen as the end of the ancient world and the beginning of the Middle Ages.

Rise of the Ostrogoths

* The Ostrogoths, a Germanic people originally from Scandinavia, established a kingdom in Italy in 493 AD under their king, Theodoric the Great.

*The Ostrogoths ruled Italy for over 50 years and adopted many aspects of Roman culture, including their language, religion, and laws.

Justinian's reconquest of Italy

* In 535 AD, the Byzantine emperor Justinian I launched a campaign to reconquer Italy from the Ostrogoths.

*The war lasted for over 20 years and resulted in the Byzantine reconquest of Italy.

*However, the reconquest was short-lived as the Lombards, another Germanic people, invaded Italy in 568 AD and established their own kingdom there.

Lombard rule in Italy

* The Lombards ruled Italy for over 200 years and their rule was marked by frequent wars with the Byzantines, as well as with other Germanic peoples who had settled in Italy.

*The Lombards were eventually defeated by the Franks in 774 AD.

Papal power in Italy

* During the late antique and early medieval periods, the popes in Rome gradually accumulated political power and became the de facto rulers of much of central Italy.

*The popes' power was based on their spiritual authority, as well as their control over vast amounts of land and wealth.

*The popes played a major role in Italian politics and culture for centuries to come.