the early middle ages

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Fragmentation of Roman Power in Late Antiquity
The late antiquity presents the period between, (C.300-C.800). It is the period during which the barbarian invasions defeated the Roman power in Western Europe in the 5th century. Arab invasion ended Roman Power over east and southern Mediterranean coasts by late 7th century. The power was threatened by cultural clashes, geographical controversies, competing religions and political restructurings.
Threats to the Roman power
Pressures that led to the fall of the Roman empire included invasions by barbarian tribes. The power sustained military losses against outside forces such as the Goths and Germanic uprisings. Threats from economic troubles and reliance on slave labor were another threat. Overspending on wars led to depletion of imperial coffers, with inflation and taxation widening the gap between the rich and the poor. They could not get slaves as they were losing in battle. Division of the power by Emperor Diocletian into two accelerated fragmentations. Other threats included overexpansion and military overspending, with rampant corruption and political instability. The power faced threats from the arrival of Huns and the Migration of the barbarian tribes.
Reforms Aimed at Saving the Roman Empire
Efforts to save the Roman Empire from collapsing targeted grouping of classes and change of currency from Denarius to Solidus. Others included edict of prices to help deal with inflation.

The change of currency was an effort in futility since it led to a reduction of value instead of strengthening it. Emperor Constantine accepted Christianity while his grouping led to social mobility. He also ended equal taxation. Reforms ensuring at restoring prosperity in the east involved increasing gold currency. He also seized pagan temples. Other reforms involved restructuring the government by separating civil and military authorities. He organized military into mobile field units and garrison soldiers.
Influences of Constantine
Emperor Constantine influence was felt in enacting administrative, social, military and economic reforms aimed at strengthening Roman power. He restructured the government into military and civilian authorities. He formed mobile field units and garrison soldier’s units. He was the first Emperor to convert to Christianity. He influenced proclamation of the Edict of Milan, which demanded religious tolerance to Christianity. He ordered the building of the church of the Holy Sepulchre at the thought sight of Jesus tomb. He was viewed by medieval church as a paragon of virtue, a symbol of legitimacy and identity (Drake, 113).
Tracks followed by East and West Part of the Empire
The Roman Empire divided into the Greek East and Latin West. East Roman Empire was the continuation of the Roman Empire also called Byzantine Empire. It survived fragmentation and fall of the west fragment in 5th Century Ad. It fell to Ottoman Turks in 1453. The east was Greek inclined characterized by Orthodox Christianity. The war led her to lose its richest provinces in Egypt and Syria to Arabs.
The Western Roman Empire was composed western provinces. Romans did not view the two parts as separate entities but considered them as a single state governed by two separate imperial courts. The east armies sensing the weakness of the west banned the East courts. The East lost parts of west due to political upheaval and finally lost her for good.
Emergence and Features of Medieval Europe
This is the period between 5th and 15th century. The fall of Roman Empire in Europe led to the decline of education, a decline of material culture and technical capacity. Medieval Europe was faced with the loss of luxury goods due to lack of intelligence. This was a dark age in Europe. The whole medieval age was however not all dark with the rise of modern renaissance and humanities movements. In this period Christianity was on the rise.

Work Cited
Drake, Harold A. “The impact of Constantine on Christianity.” The Cambridge Companion to the
Age of Constantine 113 (2006).