They were religious men who often lived sequestered from society in self-contained monasteries. This programme teaches students about monastic life in the Middle Ages, exploring the simple lives led by monks, often devoid of many luxuries of the period. Get a first hand look at the monasteries, structures that often provided more safety than life in the surrounding areas plagued by war, violence and hunger. Discover how these monks spent their time within the monastery walls, how one became a monk and the role they played in the Crusades.