The Friars: The Impact of the Mendicant Orders on Medieval Society

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The mendicant friars of the Franciscan and Dominican orders played a unique and important role in medieval society. In the early thirteenth century, the Church was being challenged by a confident new secular culture, associated with the growth of towns, the rise of literature and articulate laity, the development of new sciences and the creation of the first universities. The mendicant orders which developed around the charismatic figures of Saint Francis of Assisi (founder of the Franciscans) and Saint Dominic of Osma (founder of the Dominicans) confronted this challenge by encouraging preachers to go out into the world to do God's work, rather than retiring into enclosed monasteries. C.H. Lawrence here analyses the origins and growth of these orders, as well as the impact which they had upon the medieval world - in the areas of politics and education as well as religion. His study is essential reading for all scholars and students of medieval history.

Reviews

'A masterly synthesis, invaluable for both scholars and students' David D'Avray, FBA, Professor of History, University College London. 'Franciscans, Dominicans and other medieval orders of friars have exerted huge influence within and beyond Christianity. This revised edition of Professor Lawrence's acclaimed work on the friars in the crucial period of their foundation and early development will surely be welcomed alike by scholars and general readers.' Norman Tanner SJ, Professor of Church History, Gregorian University, Rome 'This is a book that should be on the shelves of every student and scholar of medieval history.' Lindy Grant, Professor of Medieval History, University of Reading

Author Bio

C.H. Lawrence is Professor Emeritus of Medieval History at Royal Holloway, University of London. His books include St Edmund of Abingdon, The English Church and the Papacy in the Middle Ages, Medieval Monasticism, The Life of St Edmund by Matthew Paris (ed.) and The Letters of Adam Marsh.