....fall of the Roman Empire. In the West, The "Ancient" world could be considered to have begun with the advent of agriculture, which enabled people to settle in one area rather than roaming. Once established, the settlements would provide security for the population, and in concentrating the food supply in one area, certain individuals could become craftsmen rather than farmers. Eventually, having craftsman would lead to trade, and the establishment of barter or money systems, and eventually the rise of the city. These could evolve into city-states or empires. The last of these was Rome. Usually, when an empire falls, another takes its place; after the fall of Rome for nearly 1000 years the West regressed, trade diminished, living standards declined, and areas depopulated. Only after the Renaissance 500 years ago did culture begin to move forward. Interestingly, the Medaeval or "Middle" Ages, defined between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance, defines the grey area or "no man's land" between the Ancient and Modern world.
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