Sacred Words. Religious agents, books and writen culture in Portugal and its empire in the Early-Modern Period (1540-1750)
Sacred Words. Religious agents, books and writen culture in Portugal and its empire in the Early-Modern Period (1540-1750)
This project aims at analysing the clerical written culture world in the early-modern Portugal and its Empire, during the Counter-Reformation period (1540-1750). If examined from the viewpoint of the cultural practices of its agents and of the circulation of their knowledge, this was a more complex world than the one described by the literature. First, the analysis of different libraries (communitarian, personal, virtual) allows the reconstruction of the world of readings of secular and regular clergy, and the identification of different intellectual profiles within the clerical agents. The study of reading practices (ritual and vocal modalities of reading, silent reading for meditation, erudite reading, etc.) which conditioned the reception of the texts, that the clergy and religious communities had at their disposal, will reinforce this image of complexity. Finally, the analysis of written practices of the Counter-Reformation clergy, focusing on some religious ‘genres', namely the ‘identity' narratives (chronics, vitae, narratives of miracles, etc.) allows a better understanding of the different meanings of written practices, of the material conditions of writing, of the discourse strategies, and of the uses of typography and written materials for religious propaganda. Finally, tgese analysis will permit to discuss the impact of these clerical cultures in the portuguese imperial experiences.
Religion, Empire, Culture, Agency
This project aims at analysing the clerical written culture world in the early-modern Portugal and its Empire, during the Counter-Reformation period (1540-1750). If examined from the viewpoint of the cultural practices of its agents and of the circulation of their knowledge, this was a more complex world than the one described by the literature. First, the analysis of different libraries (communitarian, personal, virtual) allows the reconstruction of the world of readings of secular and regular clergy, and the identification of different intellectual profiles within the clerical agents. The study of reading practices (ritual and vocal modalities of reading, silent reading for meditation, erudite reading, etc.) which conditioned the reception of the texts, that the clergy and religious communities had at their disposal, will reinforce this image of complexity. Finally, the analysis of written practices of the Counter-Reformation clergy, focusing on some religious ‘genres', namely the ‘identity' narratives (chronics, vitae, narratives of miracles, etc.) allows a better understanding of the different meanings of written practices, of the material conditions of writing, of the discourse strategies, and of the uses of typography and written materials for religious propaganda. Finally, tgese analysis will permit to discuss the impact of these clerical cultures in the portuguese imperial experiences.
