From the dawn of recorded history, humans have constantly been predicting the end of the world. Even the ancient Assyrians thought things were about to fall apart—a tablet dating back to about 2800 BCE states: "Our Earth is degenerate in these later days; there are signs that the world is speedily coming to an end; bribery and corruption are common; children no longer obey their parents; every man wants to write a book and the end of the world is evidently approaching."

Like a tendency towards congregating into social groups or the enjoyment of snacks, it's a notion that seems to be hardwired into many of us: the belief that we are living in the last age of mankind. Below, a quick rundown of apocalyptic visions, all of which seem to never quite pan out.