470s facts for kids

The 470s were a very important time in history, especially for the Roman Empire. During this decade, the Western Roman Empire, which had been a powerful force for many centuries, came to an end. This event changed Europe forever and marked the beginning of the Middle Ages.

What Happened in the 470s?

The End of the Western Roman Empire

The most significant event of the 470s was the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the year 476. For a long time, the Roman Empire was split into two parts: the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire. The Western part, with its capital in Rome, had been getting weaker for many years.

Many different groups of people, often called "barbarians" by the Romans, were moving into Roman lands. One of these groups was the Ostrogoths.

Odoacer Takes Control

In 476, a leader named Odoacer took power in Italy. Odoacer was a general, and he led a group of soldiers who were not Roman. He removed the last Western Roman Emperor, a young boy named Romulus Augustulus.

Romulus Augustulus was not killed, but he was sent away. Odoacer then became the ruler of Italy. This moment is often seen as the official end of the Western Roman Empire.

Why Was This Important?

The end of the Western Roman Empire meant that a huge, organized government that had ruled much of Europe for hundreds of years was gone. This led to many changes across Europe. New kingdoms started to form, and the way people lived, governed themselves, and traded changed a lot.

The Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire, continued to thrive for another thousand years. But the Western part was gone.

See also

In Spanish: Años 470 para niños