Medieval History: Monasticism (269-1216)

This week we have been looking at monasticism. Although the first monastery was in Egypt in 269, the monasteries we think of when we think of the Middle Ages began in 540 when St. Benedict wrote the Benedictine rule.

We studied Saint Benedict, Scholastica and the Benedictines and the Cluniacs, which were established in 910 with the foundation of the abbey of Cluny in Burgundy. We also read about:
Saint Francis of Assisi and the Franciscans
Saint Dominic and the Dominicans
Venerable Bede (731 he writes The Ecclesiastical History of the English People)

We followed a Monk's schedule for one day. Oh, what fun and quite eye-opening! We had our own little services. Oh, what an exhausting schedule!

A Monk's Schedule

1:45 am - Wake Up
2:00am - Church service: singing and prayers (Matins)
3:30am - back to sleep
4:00am - church service: singing and prayers (Lauds)
5:00am - private scripture reading and prayer
6:00am - Church service, then breakfast
7:00am - Work
8:00am - Church service: singing and prayers (terce)
9:15am - work
11:45am - Church service: singing and prayers (Sixtus)
12:00pm - Midday meal
1:00pm - Private reading and prayer
1:45pm - sleep
2:45pm - Church service: singing and prayers (Nones)
3:00pm - Work
5:45pm - Meal
6:00pm - Church Service: singing and prayers (Vespers)
7:15pm - Private reading and Prayer
7:45pm - Church service: vespers
8:00pm - Bed


Sources and Resources:

  • The Story of the Middle Ages, S. B. Harding from Heritage History Library
  • The Holy Twins, Benedict and Scholastica by Kathleen Norris
  • The Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World History, pages 205 and 236-237.
  • A Child’s History of the World by V.M. Hillyer, Chapter 43: Being Good.
  • Story of the World, Volume 2: The Middle Ages by Susan Wise Bauer, Chapter 3: Christianity Comes to Britain
  • The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia
  • History Odyssey, Pandia Press, Level 1 (1-4th grade), Level 2 (5th-8th grade or Level 3 (9th-12th grade)
  • Medieval History Portfolio, Homeschool Journey

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