Monasticism And The Code Of Chivalry :: essays research papers

Monasticism and the Code of Chivalry In the Middle Ages, there were many factors contributing to the building of monasticism. One of the most important components of the fourth century came when the Christians believed that Jesus would return very soon. So they did not care what the world did to itself. Instead they waited for Jesus to fix things, but it did not happen. This caused the world to become a violent place to live. Christians were persecuted for their beliefs by the Roman Government. The Christians had enough and were ready to leave. Some Christians went to a place where they could have communion in peace without the fear of the Roman government, this place was Egypt. They were called hermit monks. But others, Christians, had their ideas of the way that a Christian life should be lived. They wanted to live in a community, so they could worship together as a group instead of being alone. Benedict of Nursia established a rule that was used by most of the monks as a way of life. In this there were three specific vows, they are used to make it easier for monks to be closer to God. They are poverty, chastity, and obedience. Poverty meant that the need for money and material possessions were not needed as a means of worship. The monasteries gave the monks the things that they needed, and this was only the bare essentials. The monasteries made their own money by owning land and selling surplus products. Thus, they became very wealthy. Chastity meant that the men and women would not have sex or get married. This was said to have saved the monks from the "devilish acts" that happen when sexual desires were exploited for selfish reasons. Obedience was essential, each monk had to be absolutely obedient to their abbot. The purpose of this obedience was to develop personal humility, and to become more holy by becoming humiliated or less proud of one's self. Only making them worship and become closer to God. The monasteries were a place to get away from evil and anything to deter them from God. The Code of Chivalry means, if you own a horse than you can have wealth or power in the Middle Ages. As there are more people with horses, the tension gets tighter and tempers are flared, this is how elite soldiers and knights are