10 Most Influential Things To Have Happened In A Bathroom 10 The Library Of Alexandria Was Destroyed The Library of Alexandria was possibly the greatest institution of knowledge in history. It was also the first library to allow almost universal use: Scholars from all walks of life were allowed to study its contents. But centuries of looting and censorship destroyed this great library, not Julius Caesar as many believe. Its complete destruction stretched over a long period of time. First was the attack by Julius Caesar, which probably didn’t do much harm to the library. In AD 272, another attack by Emperor Aurelian severely damaged the Library of Alexandria. It was repaired once again, but religious riots in 391 and 415 further damaged it. With each attack, more texts were either stolen or destroyed.