Part 6/14:
A common image is that of barbarian hordes overwhelming a falling civilization. Historians like Edward Gibbon famously described Rome as being "overwhelmed by a deluge of barbarians," highlighting military defeat as a primary cause. Key events include:
AD 378: The Goths defeated Roman forces at Adrianople.
AD 410: Visigoths sack Rome.
AD 455: Vandals loot the city.
AD 476: Odoacer deposes Romulus Augustulus, marking the traditional end of the Western Roman Empire.
However, Aldrete notes that the reality was more complex—barbarians were often integrated into Roman society, serving as soldiers or even rulers. The division between Romans and barbarians was blurred, often making it difficult to pinpoint clear moments of invasion as the sole cause.