http://www.wired.com/culture/culturereviews/multimedia/2009/04/st_timeline
Wired has a neat little piece about all of the times that humanity has gotten all gung-ho about the end of the world and that the powers that be were damn certain that this was it. Surprise surprise they were wrong(we’re still here), and after 1000 years of predicting the end, and 1000 years of getting it wrong you would think that by now we would worry less about when tomorrow is ending and more about living today to it’s most. Hit up the link above for all the pretty pictures associated with the dates below
1000 AD
It’s the biggest unsolved mystery: how the world will end. Here, we present our favorite expiration dates.
With turn of millennium, Christians across Europe wait eagerly to welcome back Messiah. Messiah blows it off.
1284
Pope Innocent III does the math: It’s been 666 years since Islam ramped up. Time for the Second Coming, right? Right?
1533
Anabaptist prophet Melchior Hoffman claims Jesus will return—to Strasbourg, Germany. Hoffman dies in prison, 1543.
1844
Across US, 50,000 Millerites prepare for Second Coming on October 22, now known as The Great Disappointment.
1910
Imminent return of Halley’s Comet sparks fears that nasty tail gases will snuff out humankind. Mark Twain dies instead.
1914
Battle of Armageddon is upon us, Jehovah’s Witnesses say. Rain dates (1925, 1975) also pass uneventfully.
1982
According to The Jupiter Effect, rare planetary alignment threatens massive quakes. Result: High tide up by 0.04 mm.
1997
With Earth about to be “recycled,” 39 Heaven’s Gate cultists catch ride on comet Hale-Bopp—via mass suicide in new Nikes.
2000
New millennium once again inspires countless visions of religious apocalypse. Not even Microsoft Windows crashes.
2012
Mayan calendar‘s 5,125-year cycle ends December 21—along with human civilization. We’re doomed for sure!
