Introduction

Abstract

This introduction provides a short description of the emergence of the Reformed Orders in the early twelfth century, the background of the publication, and a summary of the twelve articles included in the volume. A review of the historiography concerning both Orders points to a renewal of knowledge in the fields involved due to a reconsideration of sources and of progress in archaeology dating techniques. Attention is then drawn to the main themes discussed: borders or frontiers as spaces for religious foundations; filiation between hermitages and abbeys; episcopal acceptance vs rejection of the Reformed Orders; the ‘desert’ vs ‘central places’ as a choice for religious settlements; interregionalism vs regionalism. The collection sets out to open new perspectives through a decompartmentalization of monastic studies and the inclusion of border areas - Brittany, Scandinavia, and Wales in particular. Its aim is to encourage a questioning of prevalent myths concerning the history of monasteries and of religious orders in Western Europe in the Middle Ages.