História, ciência e natureza na política Ilustrada de D. Rodrigo de Sousa Coutinho para o meio-norte da América Portuguesa (1796-1801)

Abstract

Science was an important element in the political construction of the Portuguese Empire in the 18th century. It would be through this knowledge that the economic potential of the nature of the possessions would be evaluated, with the aim of developing trade for the benefit of the Crown. It is thus understood that science was a useful colonial instrument to maintain the union between the European center of that Empire with its other portions on the Globe, especially with the colonial States in Portuguese America. Securing territories and developing projects to reach the other empires economically, above all to compete in markets already established by such empires. Fauna, flora and minerals would be objects of this knowledge, and for that purpose qualified men were sent for such research, entering the sertões in search of new specimens and evaluating the already known ones. Agriculture was also part of this study list, in the interest of expanding production. An exemplary case of this type of symbiosis between politics and science was that of Dom Rodrigo de Sousa Coutinho during the period when he was Minister of the Navy and Overseas (1796-1801). Due to the academic background and situation in which this individual was involved, one can see the attention he devoted to nature. As a case study, the thesis focuses on the States of Maranhão and Piauí. The objective of this work is to present how the political vision, through science in the administration of Dom Rodrigo de Sousa Coutinho, had as a project to insert Maranhão and Piauí in international trade.