We now apply the cohomology theory of the previous chapter to the study of the Brauer group. However, we shall have to use a slightly modified construction which takes into account the fact that the absolute Galois group of a field is determined by its finite quotients. This is the cohomology theory of profinite groups, which we develop first. As a fruit of our labours, we identify the Brauer group of a field with a second, this time commutative, cohomology group of the absolute Galois group. This makes it possible to give an easy proof of basic facts about the Brauer group, e.g. that it is a torsion group. We also treat the foundations of the theory of index and period for central simple algebras with the help of cohomology. Last but not least, one of the main objects of study in this book makes its appearance: the Galois symbol.

The cohomology theory of profinite groups was introduced in the late 1950s by John Tate, motivated by sheaf-theoretic considerations of Alexander Grothendieck. His original aim was to find the appropriate formalism for developing class field theory. Tate himself never published his work, which thus became accessible to the larger mathematical community through the famous account of Serre [4], which also contains many original contributions. It was Brauer himself who described the Brauer group as a second cohomology group, using his language of factor systems. We owe to Serre the insight that descent theory can be used to give a more conceptual proof.