monastic economy

Monastic economy refers to how monasteries managed their financial and resource needs during the medieval period. Monasteries were self-sufficient communities that generated income through farming, crafting, and selling goods like cheese, wine, and textiles. They often owned land, which provided crops and resources, and received donations from local people. The monks' labor helped sustain these activities, while surplus products supported the wider community and the monastery’s spiritual and charitable work. This economic system combined agricultural production, craft industries, and land management, making monasteries important centers of economic activity in their regions.