The fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century CE marked a profound shift in the trajectory of Italy's history.

As the once-mighty empire crumbled, the Italian peninsula found itself plunged into a period of political fragmentation and cultural evolution that would ultimately give rise to the vibrant and diverse landscape of Medieval Italy.

In the aftermath of Rome's collapse, the Italian landscape became a patchwork of disparate political entities, each vying for power and influence.

The Byzantine Empire maintained a tenuous hold over southern Italy, while northern and central regions fell under the sway of Ostrogothic, Lombard, and Frankish rule. - https://italyfocusguide.com/blog/what-happened-to-italy-after-rome-fell/?unique_id_nz6tpava

"The Transformation of Italy: From the Fall of Rome to the Fragmented Medieval Landscape"