With the loss of freedom pessimism increased, and the Greek philosophies of resignation were needed more than ever.

Those whom they could not satisfy turned their thoughts to new mystical philosophies and religions, which were little interested in the earthly destinies of human society.
II 1.
The idea of the universe which prevailed throughout the Middle Ages, and the general orientation of men's thoughts were incompatible with some of the fundamental assumptions which are required by the idea of Progress.
According to the Christian theory which was worked out by the Fathers, and especially by St.Augustine, the whole movement of history has the purpose of securing the happiness of a small portion of the human race in another world; it does not postulate a further development of human history on earth.

For Augustine, as for any medieval believer, the course of history would be satisfactorily complete if the world came to an end in his own lifetime.

He was not interested in the question whether any gradual amelioration of society or increase of knowledge would mark the period of time which might still remain to run before the day of Judgment.

In Augustine's system the Christian era introduced the last period of history, the old age of humanity, which would endure only so long as to enable the Deity to gather in the predestined number of saved people.