A reflection on the philosophical underpinnings of such a movement and their practical application. As both an informative and inspiring piece of research it is considered a jewel amongst historians and rebel hearts. The largest community of its kind in Europe at the time, millions of peasants and urban workers successfully established a society based on equality, mutual aid, participatory democracy and self-organisation – all without a central state or government. This fascinating yet largely unknown social experiment was eventually destroyed by forces from inside and outside the country.