What led to corruption in the monasteries during the 13th and 14th centuries?

The accumulation of wealth and power among monasteries during the 13th and 14th centuries significantly contributed to corruption within these religious institutions. As monasteries became wealthier, they often gained substantial landholdings and financial resources, which could lead to temptations and moral compromises. Such wealth allowed some monastic communities to engage in practices that strayed from their spiritual missions, including involvement in secular politics and the pursuit of personal gain.

Additionally, the desire for power may have incited rivalry among different monastic communities, further escalating issues of corruption. This entanglement with secular affairs sometimes resulted in monks focusing on wealth acquisition rather than their spiritual duties, undermining the integrity of the monastic life. The impact of these practices was particularly pronounced during a time when the church faced criticism for its excesses and moral failings, making the connection between wealth accumulation and corruption particularly clear.

The other options address issues such as oversight and external threats, but they do not capture the core issue of how the internal dynamics of wealth and power directly contributed to corrupt practices within the monasteries.