ABSTRACT
In the early Middle Ages in Western Europe, from about 500–1100 it was common for children to be given by their parents as gifts to monasteries. These so-called oblates were looked upon as offerings whose own intentions and desires were not of concern. Despite earlier studies on the view of children in monastic life, it remains to be established what cultural factors lie behind this change in attitude. This chapter looks carefully through the sources available in order to see if there is a pattern in what they reveal. It concentrates for the most part on narratives and legislation concerning boys. By the end of the twelfth century, Western monasticism had excluded children and at the same time softened its attitude toward them. In keeping children out of the monastery, monks insisted that they should be educated in a humane manner so that they could become good monks later on in their lives.
