In the late 1000s and early 1100s, a wave of religious enthusiasm seized Europe.
This movement led to a rise in the number of monasteries and the emergence of new monastic orders.
A New Activism:
In the 11th century, more new monastic orders arose and became important.
One of the most important new orders of the Middle Ages was the Cistercian order.
It was founded in 1098 by a group of monks who were unhappy with the lack of discipline at their own Benedictine monastery.
Cistercian monasticism spread rapidly from southern France into the rest of Europe.
The Cistercians were strict and they ate a simple diet, and each had only a single robe.
The Cistercians played a major role in developing a new, atavistic spiritual model for 12th century Europe.
While Benedictine monks spent hours inside the monastery in prayer, the Cistercians took their religion to the people outside the monastery.