Yes between the fall of Rome and the discovery of the New World nothing happened. Europe was just very demure, very mindful

And the Netherlands is a little guy flexing his arm

For anyone who doesn’t know that’s Cockney rhyming slang. Cup of Rosy Lee rhymes with Cup of Tea. But they often omit the last word so it becomes a Cup of Rosy.

Another one is Apples which is slang for stairs. Since the full rhyming slang is Apples and Pears.