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The Birth of Purgatory
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Jacques Le Goff's The Birth of Purgatory, translated by Arthur Goldhammer and published by University of Chicago Press in 1984 as the English edition of his 1981 La Naissance du Purgatoire, is a landmark scholarly study by one of the twentieth century's most prominent medieval historians. Its authority rests on Le Goff's direct engagement with medieval theological sources and its standing as a foundational work in the history of the doctrine, arguing that Purgatory crystallized as a distinct place in Latin theology between roughly 1170 and 1215. Its central dating has itself been discussed and refined by later medievalists, so a precise claim about the doctrine's development benefits from checking against more recent scholarship as well.
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Jacques Le Goff's The Birth of Purgatory, translated by Arthur Goldhammer for University of Chicago Press, the top tier reflecting a landmark scholarly study by one of the twentieth century's most prominent medieval historians, arguing Purgatory crystallized as a distinct place roughly 1170 to 1215. Its central dating has itself been discussed and refined by later medievalists, so a precise claim benefits from checking against more recent scholarship. NotesEnglish translation of La Naissance du Purgatoire (Paris, Gallimard, 1981). Argues that Purgatory as a distinct place, rather than a purifying process, crystallized in Latin theology between roughly 1170 and 1215.
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AuthorJacques Le Goff (Arthur Goldhammer, trans.)
PublisherUniversity of Chicago Press
Publication Year1984
Source Typeacademic monograph
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This source names Chicago directly: "and published by University of Chicago Press in 1984 as the English edition of his 1981 La Naissance du Purgatoire, is a landmark scholarly study by one of the twentieth century's most prominent..."
Claims Backed By This Source (13 claims)
This source backs 13 claims across the atlas. As facts: 11 well-attested. As cited relationships: 1 holds. Plus 1 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.
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- Sources, 8 claims: 7 well-attested, 1 holds.
- Realms, 3 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 general references.
- Articles, 2 claims: 2 well-attested.
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