Arriving Quote by Edward Jenks
“The popularity of the famous device of the use of lands into England is said to be largely due to the mendicant friars of the then new Orders of St. Dominic and St. Francis, who, arriving in this country, in the first half of the thirteenth century, found themselves hampered by their own vows of poverty, no less than by the growing feeling against Mortmain in acquiring the provision of land absolutely necessary for their rapidly developing work.”
About This Quote
Medieval religious orders attempted land acquisition, but vows of poverty and anti‑mortmain sentiment limited their success.
In simple terms: Religious vows and legal restrictions hindered land ownership.
Key Takeaway
Navigate constraints with creative solutions.
Themes
history
religion
property
law
medieval
Mood
historical
analytical
Type
scholarly
contextual
When to use this quote
- medieval Europe
- land ownership disputes
- monastic expansion
Key Concepts
economic history
church law
social reform
Questions to Reflect On
- How did religious vows shape economic behavior?
- What alternatives existed for land acquisition?
A Different Perspective
Legal and ethical constraints can restrict institutional growth.
