From Medieval Monastic Timekeeping to Our 9-5 Workday
Why do we work from nine to five? The answer begins not in a factory, but in a monastery. In 529 AD, St. Benedict created a daily schedule of fixed prayer, work, and rest that transformed monastic life. As Benedictine monasteries spread across Europe, their bells and carefully measured hours helped reshape how entire communities understood time. Centuries later, factories adopted the same principles, turning sacred routines into industrial schedules. In this episode of History Shorts, discover how a medieval rule for monks quietly became the foundation of the modern workday. SUPPORT THE SHOW…
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