News release

From: Springer Nature

Changes that shaped Europeans during the fall of the Roman Empire

Insights into family structures and demographic changes of Central Europe following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire are published in Nature. This era witnessed the emergence of new societies through the blending of previously genetically distinct groups, a process that shaped a genetic landscape that resembles that of modern Central Europe.

From the 4th century to the 7th century CE, Central Europe shifted from Late Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages. This transition is characterized by massive societal events such as the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the spread of Christianity, as well as changes in the political landscape across the region. However, little is known about the life of the average individual during this time.

Jens Blöcher, Leonardo Vallini, Joachim Burger and colleagues analysed 258 late Roman and Early Medieval (400–700 CE) genomes from ancient grave sites in Southern Germany. Their results show that in the late‑Roman period, the region hosted two genetically distinct groups — people with northern ancestry and the inhabitants of Roman settlements — the latter being highly genetically diverse, drawing ancestry from across Europe and even from Asia. The collapse of the Roman state, which enabled more mobility for many groups, led to the emergence of new societies. Despite their genetic diversity, the different local groups mixed and shared the same material culture.

The authors found that life expectancy was 43.3 years for men and 39.8 years for women, and that giving birth was potentially a major risk factor for early death in women. However, most children (81.8%) in the area grew up with at least one grandparent. The authors note an emphasis on the nuclear family and lifelong monogamy due to the rise in Christianity.

These findings offer insights into the transition from Late Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages, including the origin of the European kinship system, the authors conclude. They note that this transition is complex and should not solely be viewed through the traditional lens of conflict between barbarians and the Roman Empire. Rather than large-scale migration, the data show that migration happened in smaller, family- or kinship-based groups.