02343cam a22003133u 450000100060000000300070000600500170001300600020003000700050003200800410003704000110007804100170008905000070010610000390011324500450015226400510019730000470024833600260029533700260032133800360034750000310038350800990041452013360051353400450184965300270189465300480192185600430196999900170201213206UtSlPG20260610133319.0mcr n260607r2004||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d  aUtSlPG 7aen2iso639-1 4aBX1 aWishart, Alfred Wesley,d1865-193312aA Short History of Monks and Monasteries 1aSalt Lake City, UT :bProject Gutenberg,c2004  a1 online resource :bmultiple file formats  atextbtxt2rdacontent  acomputerbc2rdamedia  aonline resourcebcr2rdacarrier  aRelease date is 2004-08-17  aProduced by Christine Gehring, Charlie Kirschner and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team.  a"A Short History of Monks and Monasteries" by Alfred Wesley Wishart is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The book aims to trace the development of monastic institutions from their origins to their decline during the Reformation. The author seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of monasticism, emphasizing not only its spiritual aspects but also its impact on society, culture, and the evolution of religious thought.  At the start of the text, Wishart introduces the challenges of documenting such a vast subject, highlighting the difficulty of accessing original sources and the importance of contextualizing monastic practices within broader historical movements. He begins by discussing monasticism's roots in various ancient religions, pointing out that the ascetic traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, and early Christianity share common traits. The opening portion sets the stage for exploring the lives of influential monks and hermits, such as Anthony and Simeon Stylites, illustrating their profound spiritual journeys amidst the harsh landscapes that defined their existence. The author’s narrative reflects both admiration and critique of the monastic life, raising questions about the balance between individual asceticism and community engagement. (This is an automatically generated summary.)  nOriginal publication data not identified  aMonasteries -- History  aMonasticism and religious orders -- History40uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13206  c54596d54596