The Society of Jesus in Portugal. Identity and historiography

Abstract

The topic of the Society of Jesus and its role in society has been among the most studied as well as one of the most controversial in Church history. Due to the complex nature of this research and the ensuing controversies attached to it, I believe that in order to fully understand the history, the dynamics, and the identities associated with this topic, scholars should approach Jesuit historiography in stages. Hence, in this study I analyze Jesuit historiography from the very founding of this religious order down to its suppression. Additionally, I pay particular attention to how Modern times (19th and 20th centuries) viewed the first two hundred years of Jesuit presence in the world (1540-1773), where the emphasis was on its historical and ideological impact on society, within as well as outside the Society of Jesus. As for Continental Portugal, I will analyze and discuss different historiographical approaches to the role that the Society of Jesus played in this area and the reactions to its presence.