As the 6th century begins, the Western Roman Empire has fallen (476 CE), and Europe fragments into various Germanic kingdoms. Meanwhile, the Byzantine Empire, under Emperor Anastasius I, maintains stability in the East. In Asia, the Northern Wei Dynasty rules in China, and the Gupta Empire in India has recently declined, ushering in regional powers.
Understanding standards like H.323 (using Q.931) and SIP for signaling. 500-701