People in the 80s thought the human race would eradicate itself with nuclear weapons. Today the specter of global warming and rising inequality dominate Western social discourse. I'm wondering: did similar, negative views of the future exist prior to the modern era? How have they changed throughout time? Has our perspective inherited anything from them?
I'd say probably the most famous prediction (other than interpretations of the Bible) comes in Thomas Malthus' 1798 "Essay on the Principle of Population". Revised multiple times, the definitive sixth edition was published in 1826.
This essay has been highly influential since it was created. In short, it argues that human population will naturally grow until it exceeds the carrying capacity of the land. When that happens, widespread poverty, misery and collapse will follow. Malthus was attempting to explain conditions in 19th century Britain, but he hit upon an idea attractive to some, even today: that human population growth must be restricted.
Malthus' views influenced the creation of a national census in Britain and affected Charles Darwin's thoughts on natural selection. They've been repeatedly covered in fiction (think Soylent Green) and have formed the basis for apocalyptic ideas since their creation.
The term Malthusian Catastrophe comes from this essay and involves an apocalypse caused by unchecked growth.
hi! more input is welcome - particularly to provide some sort of overview - but meanwhile, there have been several related questions, so check these out for more examples
Are end-of-the-world predictions more prevalent prior to 1950, or after it?
Did Greek and Roman religion have a concept of an apocalypse?
What are the earliest End of Days/Apocalypse Myths?
What other times of history have had as much pessimism and as many doomsday prophecies as today?
[Norse] Were there ever "Rangarok Scares" akin to Y2K or 2012?