5th century

This empire had been ruled by a succession of weak emperors, with the real political might being increasingly concentrated among military leaders.

Some recovery took place during the following decades, but the Western Empire received another serious blow when a second foreign group, the Vandals, occupied Carthage, capital of an extremely important province in Africa.

After Attila's defeat, both Eastern and Western empires joined forces for a final assault on Vandal North Africa, but this campaign was a spectacular failure.

After the fall of the Former Qin towards the end of the previous century, the north of China was once again reunited by Northern Wei in 439.

Towards the end of the 5th century, the Gupta Empire of India was invaded from Central Asia and occupied by elements of the Huna peoples.