Revista de História (Dec 1974)
The theological significance of the discovery of America
Abstract
In readin g th e historica l literatur e o n th e Renaissanc e an d th e Reformation, on e get s th e impressio n tha t Spai n an d Portuga l ha d relatively littl e t o offer , an d tha t theolog y particularl y wa s a learne d enterprise tha t flourishe d onl y i n certai n soils , particularl y thos e nea r Rome. America n experienc e an d American problems receive d almos t no attentio n a t th e Counci l o f Tren t (1545-1563) , tha t grea t ecume - nical gathering of bishops which was probabl y the mos t thoroughgoing reform in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. Th e Council was principally concerned t o launch a theological attack on the Protestants , and the powerfu l Jesuit s ha d no t ye t develope d muc h interes t i n Ne w World problems.
