Question: Account for the appeal of Cistercian Monasticism in the 12th century.
Answer: Cistercian monasticism was one of the many ‘new orders’ established in the 12th century during a time of monastic revival. It began when Robert of Molesme, ‘a Benedictine abbot of high reputation’[1], left his community at Molesme to found a movement that would be true to his ideals of monasticism ‘ living in poverty under the Rule of St Benedict, separated from the secular world, as the early monks had done. He set up the first Cistercian house at Citeaux in 1097, but was forced to return to Molesme, leaving Abbots Alberic and Stephen Harding to run the house, creating an organised order....(short extract)
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- Subject: History
- Course: The Middle Ages
- Level: Degree
- Year: 2nd/3rd
- Mark: 65%
- Words: 2200
- Date submitted: August 31, 2009
- Date written: Not available
- References: Yes
- Document type: Essay*
- Essay ID: 2041
