Prosperity and Plunder

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Focusing on the rise and decline of monastic communities in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Catholic Europe, this richly illustrated book explores their significant role in education, the arts, and society. It examines their wealth and influence before detailing the factors leading to their decline, including reformist rulers, Enlightenment ideas, and the impact of the French Revolution. Authored by Derek Beales, a distinguished historian, the work provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of these communities and their historical context.