Exercise 1

Christian monasticism first emerged in the eastern Roman Empire, particularly in Egypt where several communities of religious hermits rose.  As you know, as monasticism spread west, Benedict of Monte Cassino tried to impose uniform discipline on monastic practice with his Rule.  Take a look at the Rule of Benedict.  Give special attention to sections 1, 3, 4, and 5-8, and scan other sections to get a sense of the many ways in which Benedict hoped to regulate the life of monastic communities.

However, despite Benedict's best efforts, out on the western edge of European civilization, Irish monks were developing their own distinct tradition.  Converted by Saint Patrick during the sixth century, many Irish Christians enthusiastically embraced the monastic life, founding communities throughout Ireland.  One of the most famous of these was Clonmacnoise on the Shannon River.  When you arrive at the web site, click on the History, Buildings, and Artifacts links, and examine the contents of those pages: what kinds of events did the chroniclers of the monastery tend to record? What do the buildings and artifacts tell you about life in the community.  Many Irish monasteries lived, worked, and prayed according to the Rule of Columba, devised by another of the great Irish saints.  How does Columba's rule differ from Benedict's? How did Irish monasticism differ from mainstream European monasticism as defined by Benedict?

Finally, one of the most important activities in which Irish monks engaged was the illumination of manuscripts.  You have already seen an example of such illumination from the famous Book of Kells.  Now take a look at some samples from the equally notable Book of Durrow.  How do the Durrow illuminations resemble those from the Book of Kells? In what ways do the Durrow images exemplify Celtic Christian art?

Exercise 2

From the late eight to the late eleventh century, Western Europe suffered waves of attacks from the Norse of Scandinavia.  Popularly known as the Vikings, the Norse migrated from their homelands, settling as far west as North America and as far east as Russia.  What images come to mind when you think of the Vikings? One is probably of dragon-headed ships.  The Norse were justly famed for their shipbuilding and navigation skills.  Take at look two well-preserved Viking Ships, the Oseberg and Gokstad ships: how were these ships probably used? which is more seaworthy and why? Read the following excerpts from the Old Icelandic Eyrbyggja Saga, Saga of the Volsungs, and Cormac's Saga.  In what ways do these texts confirm your conceptions of the Vikings? In what ways do they amplify or complicate your conceptions?  What, if anything, do they tell you that you didn't already know?