At the time of the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Christianity had not spread far beyond the cities and towns along the Mediterranean coast. Priests and monks traveled across the Alps to northern Europe as missionaries, converting people to Christianity. Monks began and ended their days and prayer. Some cared for the sick or worked copying religious manuscripts when they weren’t doing missionary work. The monks discussed in the passage above gathered together in
monastic communities or monasteries. Monastic communities were places where monks lived in communal settings, devoted their lives to religious practice, and followed strict rules and disciplines. These communities were often self-sufficient and focused on prayer, work, and spiritual contemplation.
Within the monasteries, the monks would gather in various spaces, such as a chapel or a prayer room, to pray and participate in religious rituals. These gatherings would typically occur at specific times of the day, such as morning and evening, and were known as prayer services or liturgical practices.
Monasteries not only served as centers for religious activities but also became influential centers of education and scholarship. Monks were often responsible for copying and preserving valuable manuscripts, including religious texts and works of ancient philosophers. These monastic scriptoria, or writing rooms, played a crucial role in the preservation and dissemination of knowledge during the medieval period.
Overall, monastic communities provided the necessary infrastructure and support for the spread of Christianity during the early Middle Ages. Through their missionary work, religious practices, and scholarly endeavors, the monks played a significant role in bringing Christianity beyond the Mediterranean coast and shaping the religious and cultural landscape of northern Europe.