men, women and children, young and old, witnessed the sackings of Ancient Rome, and loss of western Roman hegemony.
men, women and children, young and old, witnessed the annihilation of the Byzantine Empire and fall of Constantinople by the Ottomans.
men, women and children, young and old, witnessed the annihilation of their civilizations (Khwarazmian Empire - 1219-1221; Baghdad -1258, etc.), by the Mongols
men, women and children, young and old, witnessed the rise of the Bolsheviks and creation of the Soviet Union.
men, women and children, young and old, witnessed the rise of the 3rd reich and destruction of Germany at the end of WW2.
men, women and children, young and old, witnessed the rise of Pol Pot and Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.
think this won't happen again?
All empires that rise eventually fall. Some collapse and disappear while others slowly rot and decay into obscurity.