Cluniac monasteries
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Cluniac monasteries differed from Benedictine monasteries.
Key learning points
- Cluny Abbey was founded in 910 by the Duke of Aquitaine (a region in France), as a Benedictine monastery.
- Cluny Abbey was largely independent and returned to strictly following the Rule of St Benedict.
- The Cluniac order developed a much longer and more complex liturgy, in the aim of providing perpetual prayer.
- The Cluniac order spent so much time praying that they relied on local employees to do all their manual work.
- Cluniac priories were brought to England by the Normans, but remained under the strict control of Cluny Abbey.
Keywords
Cluniac - an order of monks which focused on prayer and reflection
Abbey - the building occupied by a community of monks or nuns
Benedictine - following the rule of St Benedict, a 6th century monk who wrote guidelines for how monks and nuns should live
Priory - a monastery or nunnery under the control of an abbey and run by a prior
Common misconception
That all reform in monasteries came from the Cluniac order.
In fact, some Benedictine monasteries also introduced reform, and monasteries were reforming in 10th century Anglo-Saxon England well before the Cluniac order arrived in England.
Teacher tip
There are models of Cluny Abbey in its various incarnations online which students could study as evidence of their grandeur and opulence.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who was St Benedict?
Q2.Write the missing word. The building occupied by a community of monks is known as a ...
Q3.How did monks preserve learning?
Q4.Write the missing word. In the 10th century, invaders targeted monasteries and were responsible for a decline in English monasticism.
Q5.What was the name of the 10th century Anglo-Saxon king who removed secular clergy from English monasteries to try to raise standards?
Q6.Write the missing word. In the 10th century, a movement tried to restore traditional monastic life to England.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match each term with its correct definition.
an order of monks which focused on prayer and reflection
the building occupied by a community of monks or nuns
following the rule of St Benedict, who wrote guidelines for monks
a monastery under the control of an abbey and run by a prior
Q2.What was the name of the founder of Cluny Abbey in France?
Q3.Write the missing word. The Cluniac order developed a style of worship which involved perpetual ...
Q4.Why did the Cluniac monks rely on local employees to do their manual work?
Q5.Write the missing word. Cluniac priories across Europe were led by the of Cluny Abbey.
Q6.In what year was the first Cluniac priory in England was founded at Lewes in Sussex?
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Cluniac monasteries, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Cluniac monasteries, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Castle Acre Priory unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.