Rome (first the Republic and then the Empire) fell in a manner eerily similar to what we're looking at today. More, let's remember that "crossing the Rubicon" refers not just to a point of no return, but to the point at which Julius Caesar decided to lead troops to invade Rome and declare himself dictator of the Roman Republic. His actions were considered a treasonous insurrection...and as we know, he was murdered. Ten years of civil war followed. When peace was achieved, the Republic was dead. Rome then had a series of emperors as it lumbered toward corruption, insanity, massive inequality...and its eventual fall.