Final answer:
Monks, nuns, and friars were central to medieval society through their roles in preserving knowledge, serving as economic forces, providing refuge, training clergy, advising rulers, and offering an alternative social role for women.
Step-by-step explanation:
The monks, nuns, and friars played several pivotal roles in medieval society. These religious figures were central to cultural, educational, and social activities. Monks and nuns lived in monastic communities, which became critical hubs for preserving learning and scholarship after the fall of the Roman Empire. They were responsible for copying books by hand, thus preserving knowledge from the ancient world and Christian theology.
Monasteries also served as centers of administration, refuges in crises, and were vital for the training of priests. Monasticism provided women with a distinct role in society outside of their relationships to fathers or husbands, as some became influential abbesses. Friars, who often travelled and engaged with local communities, played a different role from monks and nuns, focusing on preaching and poverty.
Monasteries also became economic forces by owning land and selling products, contributing to the development of a feudalistic society. Additionally, monks could be highly educated and became useful to kings and nobles as loyal advisors due to their broad perspectives and detachment from local political intrigues.