It seems that the premise of the question is not exactly correct, given that various forms of tar and pitch have been used for various purposes since Mesolithic times until today. In the following response I will focus on the post-Roman period, as the question posed states the year 200 AD as a supposed cesure. To name only few archaeological findings, excavations in Uppland, Sweden have shown remains of birch and pine tar production dated 3rd-6th century with similar remains dated 5th-7th century having been found in Sanguinet, France while the 2nd-3rd century amphorae uncovered in Rouen show signs of pine tar caulking and the remains of the wooden grave goods found near Nordby, Norway and dated 3rd-6th century also show signed of tar treatment.

Arguably most common application of the tar and pitch (the former is semi-solid or solid in lower temperatures, the latter is liquid) was waterproofing and caulking of the wood objects, especially in shipbuilding and architecture, where large quantity of these materials were used. Scandinavian peoples started to expand the production of tar somewhere in late 7th century by moving from the pot method to the charcoal kiln method , allowing for the large amounts of wood to be processed at once, increasing the output of the single batch from 10-15 litres to even 300 litres of ready tar. Similar remains of the large-scale charcoal and tar production dated to 9th century were also found in the Slavic lands. These large kilns were located near dense forests and as their remains not accompanied by remains of domestic buildings or burial sites, it strongly suggests that they were used as a separate installation, more or less corresponding to the modern industrial sites. This development has been continued until displacement of charcoal and resin products by coal and crude oil derivatives in 19th century, with charcoal kilns located in the remote regions (usually in the forests to provide easy access to raw resources).

In Western Europe, the surge in the imports of tar and pitch has been observed in mid-16th century and lasted until the mid-19th century. This resource was usually imported from heavily forested, vast countries of Central, Northern and Eastern Europe, predominantly Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Kingdom of Sweden and Russian Kingdom (hence Latin terms referring to birch tar such as 'balsamum lithuanicum' or 'oleum moscoviticum'), with the pine tar being more common in the former and birch tar in the two latter, chiefly due to the climatic differences. Aforementioned imports of tar and pitch, along the equally large amounts of other wood products, such as timber and potash (potassium lye made from ashes during the charcoal burning process) were the result of the rapid development of the fleet in Western European countries (largely stimulated by the discovery of the New World) that required substantial amounts of resin-related products for sealing and water-proofing ship hulls and other elements of the vessels. Tar and pitch were also one of the major exports of the English colonies in the Americas, especially since the beginning of the 18th century, as evidenced by the Bounty Act of 1705, chiefly due to the rising rivalry with Russia that additionally invaded Sweden, another important exporter. This development was so rapid that by the late 1720s, American colonies covered more than 75% of the English demand for resin products. It should be noted that tarring was not only a stage of ship manufacturing but also a frequent maintenance procedure used on regular basis, meaning that the constant supply of tar was paramount to the proper operation of the fleet, both commercial and military. This demand has ended only with the popularity of the steel hulls that steadily rose in the second half of the 19th, eventually displacing wooden ships completely.

Light fractions of the resin refinement, such as creosote, were also extensively used in 19th century as the substance used for treating wooden railroad ties and pole supports for electric, telephone and telegraph lines to protect it from humidity and rot. They were eventually displaced by the equivalent product obtained from coal tar, usage of which diminished with the rising popularity of concrete in such applications. Tar solution in alcohol, known in some regions as camphine was also commonly used as a fuel for kerosene lamps when the latter substance has not been available. Mixture of tar, lye and grey soap, sometimes referred to as pixol, was also a common and cheap 19th century disinfectant that has later been replaced by carbolic acid and similar substances.

Another common application of the tar was its usage as a lubricant for moving parts, chiefly the axles in carts and wagons but also other devices using rotating parts, such as windmills and waterwheels. Given that basically entire overland transport used horse wagons well into 20th century in rural regions and military (even in well-mechanized German army during Second World War a substantial part of a supply trains consisted of horse wagons, sometimes quite venerable ones, technically not that different from those used in the Middle Ages). Semi-solid resin products were thus used as lubricants into 19th century (or as late as early 20th century in some regions), when they started to be replaced by cheaper and less flammable greases made initially from whale blubber and then from coal tar and crude oil byproducts.

Since ancient times (and probably even earlier) wood tar has been also used for medical purposes, as evidenced by the works of Hippocrates and Galen in antiquity and e.g. Trota's De ornatu mulierum. It was a quite common ingredient of the topical ointments and liniments (usually in the 2-20% concentration) used for treating various dermal conditions, such as psoriasis, ecsema, seborrhea, dermatophytosis or lichen thanks to its reductive and strong antiseptic properties due to the existence of phenolic compounds. This applies to various medical products based on or incorporating resin fractions (with Wilkinson's unguent and Vyshnevski's liniment being quite popular in 20th century), as well as cosmetic products, such as shampoos or soaps that contain lower concentration of resin derivatives. Similarly, tar and pitch have also been used since antiquity to protect hooves from drying and infection (and also as the insect repellent) and are used to produce topical veterinarian products even today. In addition, various aromatic byproducts of natural resin refinement are quite common in cosmetics and perfumery, whenever strong, resinous notes are required.

Although internal use of tar was less common due to unpleasant, bitter taste, it has been used for various problems, usually of gastric persuasion and although it shows no efficacy in the latter, tar is moderately useful as an expectorant, depending on its guaiacol content that varies with the type of wood and method used. On 19th century, tar derivatives were also quite commonly used in treatment of tuberculosis and other respiratory problems.

Birch tar mixed with linenseed oil was also used in leather finishing since Middle Ages, especially in case of the high-quality, waterproof leather, giving it a dark yellow or deep red tint, often associated with high quality. This process is used even today, with the resulting product known as 'Russian leather' or by its Russian name yuft or German yukht. This application was also commonly extended to the treatment of other leather items that had to remain supple and be protected from sun, frost and water, such as the parts of horse tack.