This era corresponds to a rediscovery of studies originating in the 11th century in the West in the process of transformation. The church cast off the tutelage of lay power, and there was general acceptance of the authority of the church in matters of belief, conduct, and education; the papacy took over the direction of Christianity and organized the Crusades to the East; the monarchies regrouped the political and economic forces of feudal society; and the cities were reanimated and were organized into communes.