The fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD did not mark an immediate end to Roman culture and identity. For centuries afterward, people in what had been the Western Roman Empire continued to think of themselves as Romans, even as their political and social structures underwent profound changes. The last Romans were not a monolithic group, but rather a diverse collection of individuals and communities who clung to Roman traditions and values in a changing world. Some were wealthy landowners who maintained their Roman villas and continued to speak Latin. Others were ordinary farmers and artisans who lived in small villages and towns, and who spoke a variety of local languages. Whatever their background, the last Romans shared a sense of nostalgia for the lost empire and a belief in the enduring power of Roman civilization.
