The Holy Land, a Place of Identity and a Space of Action for the Franciscans: Thoughts on a Monograph

This article discusses the methods and results Marianne Ritsema van Eck offered and enriches the history of Franciscans in the Holy Land by examining the sources produced by the Friars Minors operating in the Custody between 1480 and 1650. These are understood as documents that reflect a vast project that sought to definitively consecrate the monopoly of the friars among the Christian churches in that disputed area. The chronological period under consideration is, in fact, crucial to the consolidation of the Order's hegemony. The conclusion highlights the need to integrate heuristic sources and perspectives to further expand the historical understanding of the Franciscan project.