Abrir janelas nas almas dos homens: notas historiográficas nos 500 anos da Reforma Protestante

Abstract

The Protestant Reformation, one of the thresholds of modernity for Hannah Arendt, remains a fertile subject for experts of the period. After 500 years of its inaugural milestone, a date marked by events and celebrations around the world, it seems a valuable opportunity to evaluate the studies dedicated to it. Due to the vast extent of the subject, this essay encompasses a selection of the historiography concerning religious ruptures in Europe at that time, especially the production of the last decades in French and German academies. Among the elements addressed are the different interpretations of the Protes-tant Reformation and Counter-Reformation, as well as the thesis of confessionalisation and researches on the religious wars in France and on the religious experiences. Thereby, the aim is to reflect upon the various historiographical views on the theme, without losing sight of the context and the impacts of these movements.