Ancient period in history ended in

The ancient period ended in 476 AD with the fall of the Western Roman Empire marking the start of the Middle Ages. 500 BC and 326 BC are within ancient times and 1 AD is the start of the common era. This transition involved barbarian invasions and decline in urban life. The period is studied for its contributions to philosophy art and science from civilizations like Greece and Rome. Understanding this endpoint helps in historical timeline construction and analyzing societal changes over millennia.