What was the Role of Monasteries?
History: KS3, topic 8.1.6
What Was the Role of Monasteries?
Monasteries were a key part of the medieval English landscape. They were religious buildings based around a church but were not the same as regular parish churches, and they performed many other roles.
Monastic seclusion
- Most monasteries were designed to be secluded places, away from the public, as a place for monks to worship and focus on God entirely, without the distractions of the outside world.
- Although most lived secluded lives, some monasteries did send their monks into towns and cities to preach to the public.
Single sex institutions
- Monasteries were single sex institutions. There were nunneries for women.
- They were made up of monks, who were invested as part of the church, and laymen, who helped them run the monastery on a day to day basis.
Three promises
- Monks made three promises when they joined the monastery:
- Poverty: They gave up all of their possessions and were provided with the same clothes to ensure equality. Monks focused on God instead of becoming rich.
- Chastity: They promised to have no type of sexual relationship so that they would focus on God and not become distracted.
- Obedience: They promised to do as the Church and their monastery dictated. There were strict rules they had to follow. For example, eating in silence and praying at least five times a day.
Other roles of the monastery
- Monasteries performed many different roles as well as prayer and dedication to God.
- They were centres of education, often taking in boys to teach them reading and writing.
- They housed libraries and the monks copied out documents by hand. The printing press wasn't invented until 1440 in Germany.
Medical treatment
- Monasteries were often the only place to get medical treatment and had many hospital buildings attached.
- They knew the importance of clean running water, good food and rest for patients.
- Monks performed basic medical treatments, but in reality, saw prayer as the best treatment (so they wouldn't attempt complicated procedures).
Importance for the economy
- Monasteries were incredibly important for the economy too.
- They were the biggest landowners in England, owning even more than the King.
- They therefore produced a lot of goods for sale, particularly wool, provided jobs for peasants, rented out farmland and gathered tax for the King.
Test yourself on What was the Role of Monasteries?
Which of these are a key feature of monasteries?
Which three promises did monks make when they joined the monastery?