Medieval Monasteries

Long ago in Europe, monks lived together in special places called monasteries. These buildings were often made of stone and had churches, gardens, and rooms for sleeping. Monks spent their days praying, reading, and working. Monasteries were some of the most important places in medieval times.

Life as a Monk

Monks followed strict rules every day. They woke up very early to pray and sing. They also grew food in gardens and made bread and cheese. Some monks copied books by hand because there were no printing machines yet. This hard work took many hours to finish.

Learning and Books

Monasteries were like the first libraries and schools. Monks kept old books safe for hundreds of years. They carefully copied stories, prayers, and science books onto animal skin called parchment. Without monks, many old books would have been lost forever. People came to monasteries to learn and read.

Fun Facts

• Some monasteries had over 100 monks living together.
• Monks invented champagne and many kinds of cheese.
• The oldest monastery still open today is over 1,500 years old.

Did You Know?

Medieval monks sometimes stayed silent for days or weeks and used hand signs to talk to each other.