The period of European history, which began soon after the collapse of the Roman Empire, lasted about five centuries (approximately from 500 to 1000). In the early Middle Ages, a great migration of peoples took place: Viking tribes appeared, the kingdoms of the Ostrogoths in Italy and the Visigoths in Aquitaine and the Iberian Peninsula arose, the Frankish state was formed, which occupied most of Europe during its heyday. North Africa and Spain became part of the Arab Caliphate, many small states of the Angles, Saxons and Celts existed on the British Isles, states appeared in Scandinavia, as well as the heyday of the Eastern Roman Empire.