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Clocks as we know them were not invented until almost the end of the Middle Ages, so other systems were used to keep track of the passing hours.
Time was viewed very differently in the monasteries than it is today - there was no concept of minutes or seconds and the hours could only be roughly estimated. Accuracy was not important; what mattered was fitting in all 8 church services every day at roughly the correct times.
Water clocks were one of the methods used. These were far from accurate, but measured time by allowing water to drip slowly from a tank and measuring the water level in a vertical tube above. Some had a "float" which struck a small bell at the appropriate time - a monk was alerted by this to ring the church bell for services.
Another system was a set of equally-sized large beeswax candles, each marked with lines to represent the hours. As one candle burned down another would be lit to replace it and the correct hour could be read by checking the level against the lines.
A third system used "scratch sundials" marked on a south-facing wall. These were usually a circular carved line and a central hole, with a few radiating lines from the centre to the lower part of the circle. A bronze or iron pin was set in the hole and this cast a shadow along the lines in turn. As a particular line was reached, the monks would know it was approximately time for one of the services.
None of these systems gave an accurate reading, but that didn't matter. The sundial system also varied at each season - daylight hours would be much longer in summer than in winter, spreading out or contracting the total "day".
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What were medieval monks houses like?
The Medieval era spanned a millennia and many monks lived during that time- there's not going to be any definitive answer. What I can tell you is that common building materials included wood, mud brick, stone, and rushes and that monks' houses were probably built to the method of whichever era they lived in.
What did franciscan monks do in their spare time?
absouletly nothing
How did monks of the middle ages celebrate holidays?
The monks prayed for long periods of time and visited the church for almost the whole day.
What was the hand written work the medieval monks did?
Monks of the middle ages copied books by had, and in this way produced manuscript copies. This was the only way books were published at the time, and it was nearly always done by monks. The book they copied most was the Bible, but they did other works as well, and most surviving medieval literature was copied by monks at one time or another.
What is a monks residence called?
The monks resides either at Vihara or Monastries.
A Name for monks in 1066?
In 1066, monks were commonly referred to as "brothers" or "friars." They dedicated their lives to prayer, meditation, and service to their communities within monasteries or friaries. Their role was central to religious life and education during this period.
How are medieval monks different to missionaries?
Medieval monks were typically members of religious communities who focused on prayer, study, and manual work within monasteries, while missionaries were individuals sent by a religious group to spread their faith and convert non-believers. Monks lived a contemplative, cloistered life, while missionaries traveled extensively to share their religious beliefs with different cultures and societies.
What were medieval monks houses like?
The Medieval era spanned a millennia and many monks lived during that time- there's not going to be any definitive answer. What I can tell you is that common building materials included wood, mud brick, stone, and rushes and that monks' houses were probably built to the method of whichever era they lived in.
What did franciscan monks do in their spare time?
absouletly nothing
What time did monks go to bed at?
At 7:30
How long would monks spend writing texts?
monks had only a short time to write the text because they had daily jobs and praying time so they didn't have that long
How did monks of the middle ages celebrate holidays?
The monks prayed for long periods of time and visited the church for almost the whole day.
What was the hand written work the medieval monks did?
Monks of the middle ages copied books by had, and in this way produced manuscript copies. This was the only way books were published at the time, and it was nearly always done by monks. The book they copied most was the Bible, but they did other works as well, and most surviving medieval literature was copied by monks at one time or another.
Do monks and nuns ever visit their families?
monks don't but i don't know about nuns That answer is wrong to a degree. Monks as well as sisters, are allowed to see their families. God wouldn't ask us to shun our families. Certain vows that monks take will limit their time with their families.
What types of monks are there?
Some types of monks include Benedictine monks, Franciscan monks, and Trappist monks. Each type of monk belongs to a different religious order with its own set of customs, practices, and rules.
What was the Time at midnight called that monks and nuns have pray at?
slag o'clock
How long does young men become monks in Thailand?
They might become monks for 3 days or a week when a parent dies, or they might remain monks for years. It is traditional for Thai men to become a monk at some time in their lives.
