Apocalypse Now & Then: A History of End-Times
An excerpt from a 1946 Popular Science article on the Hayden Planetarium’s exhibit “The End of the World.”
December 21st, 2012 marks the end of the “Mayan Long Count” calendar, and has triggered another round of prophesies about the end of the world. So we figured we’d spend this particular period of end-times looking back on all the good times we had… worrying about end-times.
On this episode: moments when we thought the game was about to be all over. From Indian prophets to bunker builders, the History Guys try to figure out why apocalyptic visions gain traction when they do, and ask what they tell us about American hopes and fears through the centuries.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Guests Include:
- Brian Camden, owner and engineer at Hardened Structures
- Jeffrey Ostler, University of Oregon
- Matthew Avery Sutton, Washington State University
- John Gribbin, University of Sussex
Further Exploration:
Listen to individual show segments.
The BackStory team put together a list of outside sources for more info on the history of end-times in America. There’s also a bibliography of works used to make this episode.
Even Further:
Read the listener discussion that helped shape this show.
Check out a list of music used on the show.
See ya’ll December 22!
QuoteAs a cruel comment said by the commentator in an off-handed manner that the Lakota members of Bigfoot’s band who were seeking a “new world” got their “new world” after being slaughtered (by the agents of white government (people of color were NOT in the government) is extreme. Thanks for nothing, I’ll share your stupidity with members of various indigenous nations out in “Indian Country” you’ll be hearing from us, Nikan Tlaca the living.
QuoteGreat show, as always. Here’s a side question, not very important in the grand scheme of things: Who composed the rock-style music that played in the background for the intro and during during the conclusion of the show? I’ve heard the rhythm elsewhere, as it’s something recent. But I want the artist and song so I can find either/both through Spotify.. Please help! I’m desperate for good catchy music. Yours, Tim Lacy (timothy.n.lacy-at-gmail.com)
QuoteUpdate: I *just* noticed the playlist link at the bottom of the entry below. Thanks for doing that! Very much appreciated. – TL
QuoteI just listened to the segment on “The Great Disappointment” I hope that this is the correct locations for comments for it.
If we look at all the prophecies from all the major religions they all point to a promised day of a major change or event. Some describe it as judgement day, doomsday or when the world ends, other describe it as heaven on earth or the unification of humanity. I believe that all of these major religions all point to the same event and with investigation all the signs of that promised day around the time considered the great disappointment, 1844. I believe that the folly that so many people had was based on literal interpretation and dogmatic teachings of texts. If we look specifically at that year in terms of historical event, technological advancements and human rights advancements we can see tremendous activity. That time frame was the beginning of the industrial revolution, the year that the first electronic message was transmitted over great distances and also a time of great turmoil. Since that point, the world has experience exponential change. Since then we have entered into a period of heightened global awareness and advanced communication. We have experience many good changes and many devastating tragedies. If you research this history it is apparent that humanity is taking leaps and bounds which we have yet to determine whether we will increase peace and prosperity through unification of humanity or rape the earth of its resources.
The prophecies of these major religions are thoroughly explored in a few books, if you are interested in this eventful point in our history please check out the following books and see what you think.
Thief in the Night, The Case of the Missing Millennium by William Sears
QuoteGod Speaks Again by Kenneth E. Bowers