Folder Name: 2637
Book Name: 29790.pdf
Summary: By the 13th century, the monks of Citeaux, like other religious orders, had become corrupt due to wealth, idleness, and vice. The abbot faced constant demands and threats from neighboring nobles, leading to the decay of the monastery. Monasteries received vast grants of land and privileges from rulers and nobles as a mix of religious and economic motives. Monks were expected to clear forests, reclaim wasteland, and provide various services, leading to the disappearance of villages as land was enclosed for sheepwalks and granges. The lands were held in fief and subinfeudated by the monasteries, deepening their involvement in economic activities. This economic shift away from pioneership and towards consolidation in populated areas contributed to the corruption and decline of the monastic orders during this period.