It was time. Dietrich’s parents gravely took his hands. His mother’s face was nervous, dark green skirts swishing at her ankles. Most people wore shoes with wooden bottoms and leather on top of them, like what his mother now wore. Under his father’s tunic, one of the most fashionable color, purple, his muscles were tense. Under Dietrich’s, his legs shook.

Dietrich’s family’s outfits were ostentatious and typical of their class, for Dietrich’s father was an opulent nobleman. Only the rich, like the three, could afford jewelry. Dietrich’s mother’s glistening diamond necklace proved this. They also wore stockings that went up their whole legs. In winter, they wore fur coats or capes and covered their garments in fur and velvet. Dietrich would probably never see his parents in winter wear again.

  Mass had just been completed. His parents ceremoniously wrapped his right hand in the altar cloth. Kissing it, they offered the seven-year-old boy’s hand to the priest. His hand trembled. The priest took the hand and made a cross sign over Dietrich’s head.

The abbot poured holy water onto it. The abbot revealed a sharp knife and Dietrich’s eyes widened. He cut Dietrich’s hair until his head gleamed bald. While he did so, the man chanted prayers.

His father slightly nodded to the boy and his mother gave him a rigid stare. The couple left the room. It would probably be the last time Dietrich ever saw them. The moment they were gone, Dietrich knew that his life was transformed and every aspect of his existence would be a strict routine.

As he had seen so many children do before, Dietrich slowly stripped his clothing from his shoulders. The lavish, silky, damask tunic fell to the floor in folds. He then slipped on a very simple tunic. The rough fabric made the once-pampered boy’s skin itch. Next, he put on a black, knee-length, shapeless outer garment that hung loosely from his shoulders. It had a sewn-in hood, or cowl. Dietrich knew he would wear this outfit every day for the rest of his life as a monk.

He missed the powerful stallion he had once owned named Animo. It meant “courage” in Latin.

Many boys his age at the manor had had multiple horses with rippling muscles and imperial countenances. Dietrich was given a mule with shuffling feet. A silent monk rode in front of him and behind him as if he would try to run away. Dietrich was going to be living in a monastery away from all his family and friends.

The monastic life was complete withdrawal from earthly pursuits. Most abbeys had scarcely any contact with the outside world. Monasteries served as a place for the preservation of knowledge and learning of the classical world. By the ninth century, monasteries and convents were a major force in the secular world of agriculture and government. Religious houses were very populated areas. The day consisted of a lot of labor and prayer which required the monks and nuns to be assiduous, prudent, and possess great sagacity. Monasteries had started out with lands and treasure donated by patrons. The religious houses were often on wealthy estates as they were

founded by feudal lords of great lands. These lords sought credit from a divine source and wished for high status among neighbors. Also, the abbeys were a convenient place to settle relatives.

Some abbeys owned as many as 3,000 manor houses, and one had 20,000 people living on it.

Aristocrats reserved the right for themselves to choose the abbot. The abbot was the highest government official and abbeys of a very large monastery could influence the Pope. The powers in the hands of the Pope were so great that he could excommunicate a king for a misdeed. The feudal lord usually appointed his own sons, or in the case of an abbess, his daughters.

During this time, the Catholic Church was the only Church in Europe. It was a supreme power, a stabilizing force in everyday life, and it kept the community framework together. Laws of the land, public policies, leading roles in the government, and governing of the people were all in the hands of the major, wealthy church leaders such as the bishops and archbishops. Great measures were taken to spread Christianity to other parts of the world.

Once he reached the abbey, Dietrich was ushered down a dim hallway and into a room. A row of reed mattresses met his eye. On it, there was a pillow, linen sheet, wool blanket, and a knife which the abbey issued him. His guide explained in brusque sentences that Dietrich would not be

allowed any personal property and would be punished if he were to be caught with any. The abbey himself searched the quarters for intimate possessions.

The monk searchingly gazed at Dietrich. Dietrich steadily looked back innocently. Finally, the middle-aged man looked away and left the boy to sleep. Dietrich’s room back it his old home had been large and luxurious. He had lived in a large, grand castle unlike most homes.

Most homes were cold, damp, and dark. Many had no chimneys. The kitchen had a stone hearth where the women cooked. It kept the rooms warm. It was brighter on the outside than in the house. Windows were small because house owners did not want people looking into their home. Many poor ate, slept, and spent time together in only one or two rooms. Homes had a thatched roof that could easily be destroyed.

Homes of the rich, like Dietrich’s castle, were much fancier. They had paved floors, and tapestries, which made homes warmer, sometimes hung on walls. Only the rich had glass windows. The kitchen of manor houses had a huge fireplace. Meat and even a large ox could be roasted.

Sometimes there were several large kitchens through the manor but in different buildings because people were terrified of fire.

Dietrich awoke to the clanging of the abbey bells. It was about two in the morning. Once, Dietrich had been accustomed to sleeping in as late as he wanted as long as he was on time to his studies. But not now. Now, every day, the bells would awake the abbey between midnight and the second hour. Dietrich rolled over twice and then groggily pulled on his clothes. He realized that a monk had been sleeping between every two boys. It was obvious that it was meant to keep them from talking. The other boys were forming a line and Dietrich shuffled to join it. Then, they all marched, or stumbled, to the chapel.

The chapel was gloomily lit by few candles. They cast flickering shadows over the hooded figures. First, they began to chant the Matin. It consisted of three hymns, three psalms, and three lessons. Dietrich was completely lost. He bumbled along, attempting to emulate the other venerable monks. He earned a few disapproving glances, but he did not get reprimanded. He would learn

soon enough. Next, there was the laud, followed by a prescribed series of prayers.

Dietrich was struck by how different these prayer sessions were from chapel back at the castle. Not unlike other chapels in many castles, it had had painted walls, stained glass, and golden objects. It had been considered the most alluring room in the castle. It was lavishly decorated, differing from the dark, unornamented prayer room. The service was performed by a priest.

Dietrich’s time believed that they couldn’t get through life without God or some other power. Therefore, most obeyed the Church’s strict rules about how to lead their lives. Society believed in whatever the religious institutions taught them. Dietrich’s family, as Christians, were told not to eat meat on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, or Holy Days and pray before every meal. Disobey

the Church, and you would writhe and scream in the fires of Hell for eternity.

Other purifying activities of Christians included pilgrimages. Pilgrimages were an important religious activity of the people. Visits to holy shrines were considered to redeem people of their sins and open the gates of heaven. Famous shrines included the Church of St. James at Santiago

de Compostela in Spain, the Canterbury Cathedral in England, and sites in Jerusalem and Rome. Dietrich had never been on a pilgrimage or visit a shrine, but neighbors had come back from the Holy Land raving about the life-changing experience.

Early in the period also saw an extensive increase in missionary activities. Missionaries spread Christianity to various parts of the world. It also helped in the fusion of various cultures all over the world. It did not, however, help the fusion of religions. Many “peaceful” marches were held against religions that opposed Christianity. Islam was a widespread religion during the period. Many territories were fought over and won in the name of religion. Judaism had had many setbacks, but now it was a quickly growing religion. It survived the ordeal. Other smaller religions

came upon various parts of the world, shaping societies. Arts, architecture, and teachings bore testimony to this fact.

As Christianity dominated Europe, refined and grand cathedrals were built after Roman-style churches became insufficient for accommodating the increased population of the 12th century.

Lausanne Cathedral and Regensburg Cathedral were among the most famous built during the age. They were known for their aesthetic and exemplary architecture.

Dietrich was next taken back to his dormitory for a brief nap. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow, and he was still fatigued when he was awoken to pray again at the break of dawn.

Dietrich was assigned to the care of a small group of masters after prayers. He was then led to his new schoolroom. A very stout and beefy man recited the rules which follow: “no boy shall ever presume to make any sign or even to wink his eye at another youth or to smile at him or simulate any familiarity or even sit so that their faces are turned towards each other.” Dietrich was dumbfounded with the strictness. How could he ever make any friends? Saint Benedict had been

a saint a time when the world was in chaos. Everyone was doing whatever they wanted, and Christianity was rare. Alone in the desert, he had come up with a system of rules meant to help people follow God and his ways. The rules were designed to be humbling and help people to be more kind and considerate of others. Known as the Benedict Rule, it caused followers of Christ to

be obedient and have humility.

However, after centuries, some abbeys had sadly transformed these rules into a system of strictness and punishments of any error. Some guidelines like being calm and more silent or dedicating the life to God were changed. Now, small things such as rising too slowly after Matin or falling asleep during the psalms resulted in punishment.

The day was spent in prayer, study, and work. Monks were not permitted to leave the monastery, and they were forbidden the right to their own property or to get involved in worldly concerns or desires. The monks must perform manual labor, and they had to follow the regulations of the Church. Evidently, Dietrich’s monastery had turned to the strict and harsh twerking of the Benedict Rule.

Benedict Rule.

Even so, Dietrich didn’t dare disobey the stern monk and looked straight ahead. The constraints did prevent mischief-making. Dietrich noticed that identical red-headed twin boys looked rather

sly. Later, Dietrich realized that they had attempted and succeeded in the most common prank: dripping hot wax onto a drooling sleeper. Dietrich had been ordered to report any frivolity of his colleagues, but he had found the antic whimsical.

Dietrich was soon told that all monks were required to know fluent Latin. Dietrich knew a bit, as his old tutor has made him learn a two-hundred-word vocabulary, but he was far from fluent. All the other subjects were taught in Latin, and all the new students would soon struggle with the complexities of Latin Grammar. Dietrich took lengthy notes by impressing the point of a wooden stylus in the surface of a wax tablet. He would later carefully copy the notes onto sheets of clean, smooth parchment. In Reading, the class read several ancient Roman fables and biblical stories. In Math, arithmetic was taught in a form of word problems. The complete use of Roman numerals

made complex sums difficult. The most able scholars were sent to Reichenau of Lake Constance in Southern Germany. Many religious institutions had gained power and wealth. The Catholic Church started - now famous - universities in Paris. Their names were Pubingen, Cambridge, and Oxford.

Monks and nuns were generally well-educated, and they often devoted their entire lives to learning and writing. Various scriptures in the castle library at Dietrich’s parent’s home had been written by monks. Monks wrote an assortment of scriptures on history and science and were encouraged to copy valuable manuscripts in various languages. Dietrich’s old tutor, Millan, like other castle tutors, had based much of his teachings off of the monk’s works.

Charlemagne himself had insisted that monasteries would make education their priority and that they should value learning. Charlemagne had been brought up in swordplay rather than wordplay, and he regretted his lack of full literacy. While he spoke Latin and understood Greek, Charlemagne was unable to write to his satisfaction. In 789, he had decreed that every monastery was to maintain a school and teach young men to read, write, do arithmetic, and require them to study

made complex sums difficult. The most able scholars were sent to Reichenau of Lake Constance in Southern Germany. Many religious institutions had gained power and wealth. The Catholic Church started - now famous - universities in Paris. Their names were Pubingen, Cambridge, and Oxford.

At two in the afternoon, it was finally time for the first meal of the day. Dietrich was exhausted. The studies were draining.

As a rich child, he had been able to eat meat, unlike commoners. He was not allowed to eat white bread, however, because that was reserved for the king and his family. Mutton and beef had been the most common items on his dinner table, also popular foods among the other lords and nobles.

Most people loved onions, including his older brother, Gawain, who had devoured the slimy vegetable. Along with garlic and herbs, almost all vegetables were favorites of all the ranks. The cook had picked foods from the castle garden and preserved them with salts. There was no other way to preserve the food for winter. In all the many courses, Dietrich and his family had eaten with

their hands. The food was eaten on a flat, bland piece of bread called a “trench.” He shook himself and reappeared in the present.

Dietrich recalled that since it was winter, the entire abbey only ate this one meal, contrary to the

long summers when there were light suppers before evening vespers. In his old life, Dietrich had indulged on two feasts daily along with multiple smaller meals in between.

He was gestured to sit down. In front of him was a goblet of his full share of wine that was spiced with herbs. The table was filled with an abundance of bread, cheese, porridge, yummy seasoned dishes of fish, vegetables, and eggs. He realized that, in the abbey, there was never a shortage of food.

Millan had been crazy with excitement when he discovered Dietrich’s future occupation. It had not been Dietrich’s choice. With an older brother like knowledgeable, handsome, and dauntless Gawain succeeding well in bloody tournaments, a second son was only a burden. Dietrich had enjoyed spending his days in the fields, studying organisms and insects. Once dreaming of

becoming a teacher, he had abhorred the idea of being locked away reciting endless lists of Latin prayers. 

He had quickly been transferred to a life with God. Monks and nuns came largely from upper