Question

As monastic life was made more demanding and rigorous by the Cluniac reforms, what happened to the numbers of people joining the monasteries associated with those reforms?

Answer 1

The Cluniac reforms led to an increase in the number of people joining the associated monasteries, attracted by the rigorous, spiritual lifestyle.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Cluniac reforms made monastic life more rigorous, leading to an increase in the numbers joining Cluniac monasteries. Despite the reforms demanding a more ascetic, disciplined lifestyle, many individuals were drawn to the purity, independence from secular influence, and the spiritual focus these monasteries offered.

The Cluniac movement, with its emphasis on adhering to strict monastic rules, attracted those seeking a more devout way of life. The interest in this reformed monasticism also aligned with broader societal shifts, including a growing esteem for religious devotion and the monastic preservation of learning and culture following the fall of the Roman Empire.