of the hospital. Monasteries also aided in the development of agricultural techniques. The requirement of wine for the Mass led to the development of wine culture, as shown in the discovery of the méthode champenoise by Dom Perignon. Several liquors like Bénédictine and the Trappist beers were also developed in monasteries. Even today many monasteries and convents are locally renowned for their cooking specialties. The consequence of this centralisation of knowledge was that they initially controlled both public administration and education, where the trivium led through the quadrivium to theology. Christian monks cultivated the arts as a way of praising God. Gregorian chant and miniatures are examples of the practical application of quadrivium subjects. The status of monks as apart from secular life (at least theoretically) also served a social function. Dethroned Visigothic kings were tonsured and sent to a monastery so that they could not claim the crown back. Monasteries became a place for second sons to live in celibacy so that the family inheritance went to the first son; in exchange the families donated to the monasteries. Few cities lacked both a St Giles house for lepers outside the walls and a Magdalene house for prostitutes and other women of notoriety within the walls, and some orders were favored by monarchs and rich families to keep and educate their maiden daughters before arranged marriage. The monasteries also provided refuge to those like Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor who retired to Yuste in his late years, and his son Philip II of Spain, who was functionally as close to a monastic as his regal responsibilities permitted. See also Asceticism Chronology of early Christian monasticism Clasau—the early Welsh monasteries Consensoria Monachorum Coptic monasticism Hermit Intentional community Into Great Silence—the award-winning documentary of life within the Carthusian monsastery of La Grande Chartreuse by Philip Groning List of monastic houses in England Mount Athos New Monasticism Order of Watchers—a French Protestant fraternity of Hermits Pachomius—an early example of a monastic organizer Poustinia Rule of St Benedict Notes, references, and sources References Sources External links Directory of Contemplative Men's Monasteries in the United States Directory of Contemplative Women's Monasteries in the United States "Catholic Hermitage" – Christian Perspective on Monasticism Eastern Christian Monasticism orthodoxinfo.com Anglican religious orders and communities Anglican information on monasticism Photographs of Christian Monasteries American Benedictine monastics Community of Jesus Asceticism Monasticism Monasticism Hesychasm History of Catholic monasticism