The speed, extent, and tenacity of Cistercian expansion were in every respect extraordinary and seemed to differ greatly from other monastic movements of the 12th century. Their growth, from one to seven foundations, to over three hundred in the space of fifty years, was almost completely unexpected by contemporary standards. However, when one looks back at the history of the order and examines the factors that differentiated it from other similar monastic institutions of the same period, one begins to see a number of ominous factors that have undoubtedly contributed to such explosive growth. The expansion was the “social catholicity” of its appeal. This was something that differed greatly from other Benedictine establishments of the time, for example Cluny. The early Cistercians wanted to roll back centuries of monastic development which, in their view, had tarnished Benedictine rule. The Cistercians had an unwavering belief in the pure simplicity of St. Benedict's plan, which was simply not present in other monastic institutions of the 12th century who wished to embrace the changes that were occurring. This position applied to all aspects of life, such as clothing, food, buildings and furniture. The Cistercian conviction was completely unshakeable. St. Bernard of Clairvaux's main criticism of Peter the Venerable (and the Cluniacs in a more general sense) was that they simply did not adhere strictly enough to the rule of St. Benedict. Something that could certainly be said to be true. The Cistercian statues decreed that the rule of Saint Benedict was nothing other than the pure gospel of Christ, as such it was crucial that the original ideal was preserved from the ideological erosion of the medium of paper. ....tional meaning tithes, rents, donations from benefactors, etc.P.253, Western Society and the Church in the Middle Ages, RW Southern.P.190, Medieval Monasticism, CH Lawrence.P.260, Society Western and the Church in the Middle Ages, RW SouthernP.174, Medieval monasticism, CH Lawrence1152-lighting reduced to two candles, 1157-Construction of towers prohibited, End of the 12th century-Colors redefined.P.6, Cistercian architectural purism, Francis Bucher. The apse allowed an indefinite increase in the altars while the adaptable nave gave way to an often large number of Conversi. P.13, Cistercian architectural purism, François Bucher. Romanesque architecture had reached its peak and the new Gothic style was gaining prevalence in Ile de France.P.21, Cistercian architectural purism, François Bucher.