In this TL a cold slowed down the progress of the Germanic tribes. This meant that the Germanic tribes wouldn't conquer Rome at the same time that it does in OTL. Rome splits peacefully a few years later under Rome's last Emperor Julius Nepos. Europe never enters the period of political disorder known as the dark ages and because of this the idea that the earth is round and not just a flat plate emerges earlier. Different countries colonize the new world.