In early European history, many new European kingdoms and later empires arose in the wake of which major development?

Introduction / Context:
The transformation of the ancient world into medieval Europe involved the decline of the Western Roman Empire and the rise of various Germanic kingdoms. Historians often link this process to a chain of migrations and invasions set off by pressure from central Asian groups such as the Huns. Understanding this sequence helps explain how former Roman provinces became the bases for future European states and empires. This question asks you to identify which major development set this process in motion.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on early European kingdoms and later empires.
• The options mention African expansion, Mongol invasions, Hun invasions and the collapse of the Byzantine Empire.
• You must select the development that most directly led to large scale migrations and new political formations in western Europe.
• We assume basic knowledge of late Roman history and the so called barbarian invasions.

Concept / Approach:
In late antiquity, the westward movement of the Huns put pressure on Germanic tribes living near the borders of the Roman Empire. To escape or respond to this pressure, groups such as the Visigoths, Ostrogoths and Vandals moved into Roman territory. These movements contributed to the weakening and eventual fall of the Western Roman Empire in the fifth century. Over time, the Germanic kingdoms that emerged in its place formed the core of later European political systems. African kingdoms and Mongol invasions affected other regions and periods, while the collapse of the Byzantine Empire occurred much later and did not directly produce the early medieval western kingdoms. Therefore, the correct approach is to connect the rise of these early European polities with Hun driven migrations.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Western Roman Empire fell in the fifth century CE after repeated invasions by Germanic tribes. Step 2: Recognise that many of those tribes moved under pressure from the Huns, whose expansion from central Asia disturbed existing settlements. Step 3: Understand that groups such as the Visigoths and Vandals established new kingdoms in former Roman territories. Step 4: Note that these kingdoms formed the political and cultural foundations for later medieval European states and empires. Step 5: Choose the option that describes Hun invasions triggering mass migration, because it best matches this historical process.

Verification / Alternative Check:
Historians often use the term migration period or barbarian invasions to describe the movement of peoples into the Roman Empire in the fourth and fifth centuries. They identify Attila and the Huns as one of the key forces that pushed Germanic tribes westward. The fall of Rome in 476 CE and the establishment of kingdoms in Gaul, Spain and Italy are directly connected to these movements. The Mongol invasions occurred many centuries later and primarily affected eastern Europe and Asia. The collapse of the Byzantine Empire happened in 1453 and is associated with Ottoman expansion, not with the early medieval formation of western European kingdoms. These timelines confirm that the Hun related migration is the relevant development.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The option about African kingdoms such as Ghana expanding into Europe is historically inaccurate, as these kingdoms were important in west Africa and did not conquer European lands. The Mongols did invade parts of eastern Europe in the thirteenth century, but by then medieval European kingdoms and nascent empires already existed. The collapse of the Byzantine Empire was a major event, yet it mainly affected eastern Mediterranean politics rather than the initial formation of western kingdoms. These alternatives either occur in different regions or in different centuries, so they do not fit the pattern described in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners confuse various invasions and collapses because many occurred across a long period. They may associate any dramatic phrase such as collapse of an empire with the rise of new states without checking dates. To avoid such confusion, keep a clear chronological framework. Remember that the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the migration of Germanic tribes belong to the late antique period, while Mongol and Ottoman expansions occur much later. Linking Hun pressure to the migration period is a key piece of that framework.

Final Answer:
Many European kingdoms and later empires arose in the wake of Hun invasions that triggered a mass migration of Germanic peoples and the collapse of western Rome, so that option is correct.