The pursuit of the millennium

In 'The Pursuit of the Millennium', Norman Cohn examines the rise and fall of various millenarian cults and movements during the Middle Ages.

The book covers topics such as the Brethren of the Free Spirit, flagellants, the Anabaptists, and the Ranters, and discusses their roles in historical events like the Crusades and the takeover of Münster by John of Leiden.

Cohn also draws parallels between these medieval movements and later totalitarian ideologies, such as Nazism and Soviet communism, highlighting the recurring themes of millenarian expectation and social upheaval.