By the late eighth and early ninth centuries, during the reign of Charlemagne, the church in France was well established and remarkably well organized. From the seventh century, bishops were appointed by kings, giving the kings much greater control over the church and thus over the people. The church and the local priest were central to village life at this time. The Christian religion and the church was one of the major socializing forces in early medieval times and religious beliefs controlled people's lives.
Monastic life came to France from the east and was established in France by the fourth century. The numbers of monasteries in France increased and they rapidly became extremely rich and powerful landowners. Monastic orders added to the better education of the ruling classes in France, as monks were both religious men and teachers.
