The Middle Ages

Yes. Although monks and nuns lived away from village life, they did interact with other people. Monasteries, convents and abbeys served as hospitals for the sick, guesthouses for weary travelers, distribution centers for the needy, and storage facilities for food. Most nuns had a far more active life than the monks. Nuns prayed, but they also spent time spinning, weaving, and teaching. They taught needlework and the use of herbs to noblewomen. Monks and Nuns