The abbeys of Bury St. Edmunds, Ely, and Glastonbury were three of the most powerful economic hubs of medieval England. They were also sites of incredible mystery, devotion, and miracle. One claimed the bones of King Arthur, one was founded by a Queen, one gathered around a martyred king slain by Vikings. In addition to being centers of learning and pilgrimage, all three abbeys contributed significantly to the reach and growth of secular power.

This course will explore the histories of these three abbeys as a way of uncovering the complex role monasticism played in medieval England. Abbeys were not simply sites of holiness, education, and healthcare. They also played vital political, economic, and social roles. Students will journey back into the cloister through a mixture of presentations, discussion, and the study of original texts, including chronicles and hagiography.

Complex sites of religion, refuge, and resistance, participants will discover the different roles abbeys played across time.