Western Historiography of the 60s-70s of 20th Century on the Problems of Humanism and the Reformation in Italy

Abstract

Key words: ideology, religion, doctrine, Catholic Church, doctrine, humanist, reformist, Protestantism During the 1960s and 1970s of the 20th century, the focal point for many Western historians, particularly those specializing in medieval studies, revolved around the destiny of the Italian Humanism within the context of the burgeoning Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation. They also delved into the exploration of the complex correlation between the Renaissance and the Reformation and the convergence between the humanistic worldview and the ideology of the Reformation. Western scholars have prominently emphasized the continuity of the cultural and historical achievements of the Italian Humanism and the ideology of the Reformation. The prevailing consensus among those Western scholars is that the optimistic worldview of the Renaissance was markedly more progressive when compared to the ideology of the Protestant Reformation. These scholarly works underscored the cohesion between the advancements in humanistic thought and the cultural and historical imperatives of the Protestant Reformation. Notably, they highlighted areas of convergence, such as the prioritization of inner spirituality over external ritualism and the shared aspiration for the moral rejuvenation of the church. Within this scholarly discourse, humanism emerges as a precursor to the Reformation, laying the groundwork for its emergence.