this situation remained without significant change until the sixth century of the christian era. in the meantime, competition between the east and west roman empires was intensified. rome, which had ruled the west as far as gaul and england for many generations, and which looked proudly back to the age of julius caesar, began to lose its glory gradually. the glory of byzantium was increasing and, after the dissolution of roman power following the raids of the vandals and their conquest of rome itself [476 c.e.], it became in fact the only heir of the wide roman world. naturally, these events were not without influence on christianity, which arose in the lap of rome where the believers in jesus had suffered tyranny.