LänsiRoomaksi

LänsiRoomaksi, meaning "West Roman" in Finnish, refers to the Western Roman Empire. This political entity encompassed the western provinces of the Roman Empire, originating from the empire's division. The traditional date for its fall is 476 AD, when the last Western Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by the Germanic chieftain Odoacer. However, the empire had been in decline for some time, marked by internal strife, economic problems, and external pressures from migrating peoples.

The Western Roman Empire was a successor state to the unified Roman Empire and shared many of its administrative structures, legal traditions, and cultural heritage. Its territory included much of Western Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Balkans. Key cities within its domain included Rome, Ravenna, Carthage, and Trier. The empire's legacy is profound, influencing the development of languages, legal systems, and political thought in post-Roman Europe.

The collapse of the Western Roman Empire did not signify a complete disappearance of Roman influence. Instead, it led to the emergence of successor kingdoms, often ruled by Germanic peoples who adopted and adapted Roman institutions. This period is often referred to as the Early Middle Ages or the Migration Period, a time of significant transformation and the gradual formation of medieval European states. The Eastern Roman Empire, later known as the Byzantine Empire, continued for another thousand years, preserving Roman traditions and culture in the East.