Monthly Archives: February 2013

Monastic vows

Entering the monastic life began with a year of living as a novice. Novices lived in separate quarters and although they participated in prayers and services, they received instruction in the community’s customs and sign language. Novice-masters expected to do … Continue reading

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Why would any teenager take monastic vows?

As described in a previous post, children could be dedicated to the church around the same age that their peers entered school or began professional training. They were not forced to take vows when they got old enough. Monks and … Continue reading

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Becoming a knight

Teenage boys who were in training to become knights crossed into adulthood with the ceremony of dubbing. There were squires who never became full knights, or who remained squires well through their 20s. This would be the case if their … Continue reading

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Notes on university life

Copying the guilds, which had developed special “livery” robes for their members to wear on parade, lecturers and masters (graduates) began to wear a uniform robe and hat based on the fashion of the times. Many lecturers were monks, so … Continue reading

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Living at a college

“Colleges” as divisions within the university came about as students faced problems in getting good housing. Students could arrive for university studies as young as 14 or 15. Medieval rich people often donated money at death to found some kind … Continue reading

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Beginning university

Very few medieval schoolboys were destined to continue to university, but some did. University was preparation for only a few careers: professor, lawyer, doctor, theologian, or dropout. Dropouts tended to become private tutors and secretaries, stand-up comedians on a jongleur … Continue reading

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