The Cistercian abbey in Koprzywnica was founded in 1185 by the magnate of Lesser Poland, Mikołaj of the Bogoria family, who donated lands divided into two groups. The first one included village plots located in the Sandomierz Voivodeship, and the second one was located in Podkarpacie, in the Jasiołka and Wisłok valley. The Duke of Krakow, Casimir the Just (+ 1194), and the bishop of this city, Gedko, also contributed to the foundation of this abbey. It was thanks to these characters that the monks were able to leave Morimund and settle in Koprzywnica. The motherhouse in Morimund was then already the fourth foundation in this part of Poland, after Jędrzejów, Sulejów and Wąchock. The new foundation received support from both the bishop and the princes. The main benefactor's family also continued to help. The concern for the development of the abbey is confirmed by numerous donations of lands, as well as the granting of immunities by the authorities. The Koprzywnica community quickly adapted to local customs and economic conditions, as evidenced by financial transactions concluded by the community with former owners. The purpose of these transactions was to consolidate their own lands. The monks' preferences were directed towards lands located near the monastery, requiring little work and quickly generating significant profits. In the 13th century, despite encouragement from the authorities, they did not undertake extensive colonization, which began only in the 14th century. The Koprzywnica Abbey maintained close contacts with the General Chapter. On the recommendation of the Chapter, the abbot from Koprzywnica was entrusted with numerous missions in Poland and abroad. He often acted as visiting abbot responsible for inspecting the sites and material conditions of newly founded Cistercian abbeys. These contacts with higher instances of the Order probably resulted from respect for the Rule, as well as from the national advantage of the community. In the 13th century, the dominant element was French, associated with Western abbeys. This change occurred in the next century. The dominant nationality of the abbey was no longer French, and contacts with Citeaux became more loose. In fact, the names of the abbots suggest that a bourgeois element of German origin, without strong ties to Citeaux, became dominant. A change in this direction was also noticed at the General Chapter. The 14th century did not bring any fundamental changes in the economy of the Koprzywnica Abbey. The process of land consolidation, begun in the 13th century, continued, with the difference that the activities of monks developed on a large scale. With considerable financial resources at their disposal, they acquired large areas of land, while not neglecting more modest plots of land, as long as they were located close to their center of activity. Profits were obtained mainly thanks to the serving population, because conversos, intended for manual labor according to the Order, were only a minority. The importance of the Cistercian economy for the country resulted from effective management and efficient use, which demonstrated a broad initiative to raise the level of agriculture by improving soil quality, regulating rivers, creating gardens and introducing new plant varieties. The profits obtained from these activities confirm that the Cistercians were experienced farmers.