End of Days: Essays on the Apocalypse from Antiquity to Modernity

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The idea of the complete annihilation of all life is a powerful and culturally universal concept. As human societies around the globe have produced creation myths, so too have they created narratives concerning the apocalyptic destruction of their worlds. This book explores the idea of the apocalypse and its reception within culture and society, bringing together 17 essays which explore both the influence and innovation of apocalyptic ideas from classical Greek and Roman writings to the foreign policies of the contemporary United States. The book begins with an essay which serves as a microcosm for the remaining collection, exploring the points of convergence and divergence among medieval Christian and contemporary secular apocalyptic ideas. The first half of the book invites readers to explore ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern popular conceptions of the apocalypse. The second half focuses on the continuance of apocalyptic expectations and how they are understood within the realms of contemporary politics and popular culture.