Pelos campos, matas, ilhas, sertões, rios e baías: a espacialidade das povoações do Diretório dos Índios e as dinâmicas territoriais na capitania do Maranhão (1757-1774)

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on discussing the spatial dynamics in the Captaincy of Maranhão through experiences of foundations of Indian Villages and Places which was a policy resulting from the Directorate, implemented in the Captaincy in 1757. The reuse of the ecclesiastical network for the implementation of new Colonial nuclei iniciated another moment in territorial organization in the trail of Villages and Places followed by both sides of the border of Maranhão Captaincy: to the West with the Turiaçu river and to the East with Parnaíba river. Thus, the perspective is advocated that Maranhão found an ambiguous position regarding its geographical situation between the years 1757 and 1774. At the same time as Maranhão belonged jurisdictionally to the Captaincy of Grão-Pará it also constituted a passage to Piauí, this representing a path to the State of Brazil through the backlands. Together with the islands, bays, backlands, forests and fields, which equally constituted territorial nodes, the Villages and Places constituted vectors of colonial expansion towards the backlands of Piauí, achieving connections not only with the State of Grão-Pará and Maranhão, but also with the State of Brazil. Therefore, the central hypothesis of this research consists of showing that the spatial logics, having the Villages and Places as irradiation poles resulted from the historical experiences lived in the daily routine of the nuclei themselves in which indigenous people, directors, military personnel and colonial administrators were engendered with territorial dynamics revealing a factor of conflict that allows diverse interests to be revealed.