27. The Sack of Rome
Before the final fall, Rome suffered devastating blows—most notably the sackings by the Visigoths in 410 AD and the Vandals in 455 AD. These traumatic events shocked the ancient world, shattering the myth of Rome’s invincibility. The city’s treasures were plundered, and morale was irreparably damaged. According to History.com, these sackings foreshadowed the empire’s ultimate collapse and symbolized the end of an era.
