Lorenzo Valla The Profession of the Religious and Selections from the Falsely-Believed and Forged Donation of Constantine Historical Treatises

Lorenzo Valla (1407-1457) was a leading humanist scholar and controversial writer of the fifteenth century. These treatises, The Profession of the Religious and The Falsely-Believed and Forged Donation of Constantine, both dating from around 1440, advocate an inner kind of spirituality and criticize ecclesiastical institutions. They illustrate the authors persuasive discursive strategies.

Features:
- Focuses on religious questions and humanist scholarship
- Includes The Profession of the Religious and The Falsely-Believed and Forged Donation of Constantine
- Examines spirituality, ecclesiastical institutions, and historical legends
- Structured as a dialogue and an oration