"EVERYTHING WAS FOR SALE IN ROME"

AN ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL USES OF THE LETTERS OF INDULGENCES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PROTESTANT REFORM

Abstract

Abstract: The theme of this research is Everything was for sale in Rome: an analysis on the political uses of the letters of indulgences in the context of the Protestant Reformation, whose field of study is Modern History. The objective of this research is to understand the political uses of indulgences in the context of the aforementioned religious movement, taking into consideration the negotiations and agreements signed on behalf of different claims. The main references collated are: Delumeau (1989), Rops (1996), Skinner (1996), Febvre (2012), Marshall (2017), and Lindberg (2017). Finally, it was concluded that Lutheran criticism of the letters of indulgences exposed the true motive behind this system engendered at the heart of the Church which had political tenor.

Key words: Martin Luther. 95 theses. Indulgences.