This document discusses a research project exploring the relationship between the organization of space and the training of monks and nuns in 6th and 7th century Iberia. The project will compare archaeological reports on excavated monastic sites and Iberian monastic rules and advice texts to ascetics from the provinces of Baetica and Gallaecia between 500-700 AD. It will examine monasteries as formative spaces for individuals and communities at different levels, including comparisons between regions and source types. One source text describes guidelines for a monastery layout, including having one main entrance, a small back entrance to the garden, cells for monks located near the church, and any settlement ideally distant from the monastery.

1. Formative Spaces: Making monks in
early medieval Iberia
• October 2016
• British Academy-Leverhulme
Trust small research grant
• Exploring relationship between
organisation of space and
training of monks and nuns in
6th & 7th century Iberia
• Levels of inquiry:
1. monasteries as formative
spaces for individuals and
communities
2. comparisons between regions
3. comparisons between source
types
Church of Santa Lucia de Trampal, Cáceres

2. Sources and method
The project compares two
source groups from the
provinces of Baetica and
Gallaecia, ca. 500-ca. 700:
1. Archaeological reports
on excavated monastic
sites
2. Iberian monastic rules
and advice texts to
ascetics

3. Texts and physical spaces
“The walls of the monastery
will have one main entrance,
with an additional small back
entrance that leads into the
garden. Any settlement must
ideally be distant from the
monastery, in case if it were
near then it might bring the
distress of danger or taint the
monastery’s honourable
reputation. The cells of the
monks should be located next
to the church so that they can
go as quickly as possible to
Divine Office.”
Plan of Santa Lucia de TrampalIsidore of Seville, Monastic Rule, chapter 1