The western Roman Empire controlled a vast amount of territory that experienced the fall of Rome in different ways and at different times. Some areas felt the affects immediately, while others did not experience the full impact for a couple centuries.

In England, the impacts were immediate. By the late 300s, early 400s, Rome abandoned England as wars with the invading Goths and various civil wars left them unable to properly defend and manage the land. A large portion of the economy in England was based around supplying the Roman army, so when they left the economy collapse almost immediately. Life for civilians returned to what it was prior to the Roman occupation with various small kingdoms popping up and fighting each other. Large cities on flat land in a plain were quickly replaced with hilltop fortress that were easier to defend. The invading Danish tribes and constant warfare between the current inhabitants engulfed the region for the next 500 years until there was some semblance of peace with Edward the Elder in the 900sz

As we move a bit south, life in northern Gaul (modern France) was similar to England. Without the Roman army, the people lost their economy and protection. Constant invasions from Goths and barbarian tribes lead to warlords controlling vast amount of lands. Life would not have been as bad here as it was in England, but nevertheless, they felt the impacts of the fall of Rome fairly immediate starting in the early 400s.

Life for people living in southern Gaul would be different. Rome controlled this area until the mid 400s. They still had the ability to trade with merchants throughout the Mediterranean Sea and could ship and receive goods from nations with a more stable economy. However, one major impact would be the loss of travel. Although most goods could be transported via water, it still hurt the economy to no longer have free access to a network of roads that could connect you all the way to Greece and beyond. Still to the average citizen in this area, life would have been similar to when Rome controlled the region. The economy would be smaller because of this limitation of free travel, but not completely destroyed and their were still plenty of local merchants and seafarers to work with.

Carthage (Northern Africa) was similar to southern Gaul. In the mid 400s, the Vandles took control of Carthage which was a major port and value region for the empire. When the Vandles took control, they slaughter mass groups of people their way to power. However, after this first period of conquest by the Vandals, life for people in the region would have continued similar to Gaul. The economy was smaller, but not destroyed and the sea allowed access to trade with other regions. The people now just paid taxes to the Vandals rather than Rome.

A major loss for many wealthy people went Rome collapse was the loss of opportunity. Rome was able to buy so many goods to support their people and army that merchants always had a partner to trade with. On top of this the empire lowered transaction cost with construction of public docks and roads - suppliers had to pay less to transport food and because the empire was so vast and well structured you could travel thousands of miles fairly easily. If you had connections to people in government you could easily rise to power through political affiliation. When Rome fell the world shrunk. By few hundred years later (or much sooner in specific regions), grain from Egypt was still exported, but not throughout the entire Mediterranean and not to a massive single source buyer like Rome. The was the same for wine in southern Gaul, pottery from cartage and olive oil in Spain. The local economies, social life and travel access drastically shrunk when Rome fell. Small kingdoms and nations took over the lost land. Rather than traveling a thousands mile in peace, you may need to cross multiple kingdoms with some being more dangerous than the other.