Before Brasília: Frontier Life In Central Brazil
by Mary C. Karasch /
2016 / English / PDF
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Before Brasília
Before Brasília offers an in-depth exploration of life
in the captaincy of Goiás during the late colonial and early
national period of Brazilian history. Karasch effectively
counters the “decadence” narrative that has dominated the
historiography of Goiás. She shifts the focus from the declining
white elite to an expanding free population of color, basing her
conclusions on sources previously unavailable to scholars that
allow her to meaningfully analyze the impacts of geography and
ethnography.
offers an in-depth exploration of life
in the captaincy of Goiás during the late colonial and early
national period of Brazilian history. Karasch effectively
counters the “decadence” narrative that has dominated the
historiography of Goiás. She shifts the focus from the declining
white elite to an expanding free population of color, basing her
conclusions on sources previously unavailable to scholars that
allow her to meaningfully analyze the impacts of geography and
ethnography.
Karasch studies the progression of this society as it evolved
from the slaving frontier of the seventeenth century to a
majority free population of color by 1835. As populations of
indigenous and African captives and their descendants grew
throughout Brazil, so did resistance and violent opposition to
slavery. This comprehensive work explores the development of
frontier violence and the enslavements that ultimately led to the
consolidation of white rule over a majority population of color,
both free and enslaved.
Karasch studies the progression of this society as it evolved
from the slaving frontier of the seventeenth century to a
majority free population of color by 1835. As populations of
indigenous and African captives and their descendants grew
throughout Brazil, so did resistance and violent opposition to
slavery. This comprehensive work explores the development of
frontier violence and the enslavements that ultimately led to the
consolidation of white rule over a majority population of color,
both free and enslaved.