Benedict's rules

4. Monasteries that kept to Benedict's rules could be very useful institutions because they provided so many services to the community, as well as keeping its people peaceful and content. These monasteries also educated many by serving as schools and they cared for the sick. Also they served as places of refuge and as much needed rest stops for the travelers of Western Europe. All of these aspects contributed to a more educated breed of people that had the ability to hold government positions and directly contribute ideas of the Roman Catholic church to society. Also these monasteries served the community by increase agriculture production. The inhabitants of the monasteries were taught to be silent, garden, and meditate all day which was fortunate because they were able to grow their own food. Also they preached not to be gluttonous and to do everything in moderation, meaning that they probably did not eat all of the crops they produced. This ultimately provided a sense of trade to the economy.
5. The rule of this tight nit and highly structured society within the monasteries suggests a sense of disorder in the outside community. The strict and demanding language and tone exhibited in Benedict's rule suggests the need for religious structure in the communities and in politics outside of the monasteries. Also the monasteries seemed to control most of the economy due to their production of agriculture. They also had high literacy rates because they forced the monks to read everyday, containing most of the knowledge of Western Europe within the monastery. This shows the chaos that was going on outside of the monastery walls and the decentralization of Western Europe.