Aaron O'Neill
Research lead for society, economy, and politics: Europe & global
Get in touch with us nowNumber of monasteries in Western Europe by century and region 500-1500
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, the Catholic Church, centered in Rome, became the largest unifying authority in Southern and Western Europe. However, it was not the Italian peninsula that has the highest number of churches, monasteries, and abbeys during the Middle Ages, but France.
The monastic movement of St. Benedict, formed in the 6th century, eventually consolidated its power in France and gained widespread influence over the region. By the 12th century, the Benedictine monastery in Cluny, Burgundy, controlled over 1,000 other abbeys (even as far as Scotland), and was considered the leading center of Christian monasticism. In many ways, the Church was considered a more powerful authority than monarchies in the Middle Ages, and the hierarchical nature of the Church saw cardinals and bishops elevated to positions of significant power. In addition to being places of worship, abbeys and monasteries also became trading and communal centers for local populations before the era of urbanization.
The monastic movement of St. Benedict, formed in the 6th century, eventually consolidated its power in France and gained widespread influence over the region. By the 12th century, the Benedictine monastery in Cluny, Burgundy, controlled over 1,000 other abbeys (even as far as Scotland), and was considered the leading center of Christian monasticism. In many ways, the Church was considered a more powerful authority than monarchies in the Middle Ages, and the hierarchical nature of the Church saw cardinals and bishops elevated to positions of significant power. In addition to being places of worship, abbeys and monasteries also became trading and communal centers for local populations before the era of urbanization.
