Editing Abbey (section)

=== Adoption of the Roman villa plan ===
[[File:Monte Cassino Opactwo 1.JPG|300px|thumb|right|[[Monte Cassino|The Abbey of Monte Cassino]]]]
Monasticism in the [[Western world|West]] began with the activities of [[Benedict of Nursia]] (born 480 AD). Near [[Nursia]], a town in [[Perugia]], [[Italy]], a first abbey was established at [[Monte Cassino]] (529 AD).<ref name=EB/> Between 520 and 700 AD, monasteries were built which were spacious and splendid. All the [[city state]]s of [[Italy]] hosted a [[Benedictine]] convent as did the cities of [[England]], [[France]] and [[Spain]]. By 1415 AD, the time of the [[Council of Constance]], 15,070 Benedictine monasteries had been established.

The early Benedictine monasteries, including the first at Monte Cassino, were constructed on the plan of the [[Roman villa]]. The layout of the Roman villa was quite consistent throughout the [[Roman Empire]] and where possible, the monks reused available villas in sound repair. This was done at Monte Cassino.

However, over time, changes to the common villa lay out occurred. The monks required buildings which suited their religious and day-to-day activities. No overriding specification was demanded of the monks but the similarity of their needs resulted in uniformity of design of abbeys across Europe.<ref name=birt/> Eventually, the buildings of a Benedictine abbey were built in a uniform lay out, modified where necessary, to accommodate local circumstances.{{sfn|Venables|1911}}