"The plan is, therefore, to bring together a significant number of texts that presente, or contribute to defining, the «state of art» achieved to date by recent historical production in the subject areas considered. These texts have two objectives: first, to summarize briefly, and from a critical perspective, the progress made by recent research, the problems outstanding, including possible shortcomings in the investigation, and, secondly, to demonstrate perspectives for the future, either in line with what has been achieved, or any changes in methodology or in the bases of interpretation" José Mattoso, "Preface"