Slavery and the Demographic and Economic History of Minas Gerais, Brazil, 1720–1888 (Cambridge Latin American Studies, Series Number 85)

This 2000 book examines the demographic and economic history of slavery in Minas Gerais, the single largest slave-holding region in Brazil, from its settlement in the early eighteenth century until the abolition of Brazilian slavery in 1888. It utilizes the largest database ever assembled on a slave population in the Americas to reconstruct and analyse the unique history of slave labour in Minas Gerais. This slave population was remarkable in its ability to diversify economically as well as in increasing through natural reproduction, rather than through importation via the trans-atlantic slave trade. Minas Gerais therefore invites comparison with the patterns of slave reproduction found in the United States' South, heretofore considered unique. Extensively researched and finely documented, this book places the history of a unique Brazilian slave community into comparative perspective. Cover......Page 1 Frontmatter......Page 2 Contents......Page 10 List of illustrations......Page 12 List of tables......Page 15 Preface......Page 18 Acknowledgments......Page 28 Maps......Page 31 1 - The mining-driven economy and its demise: from settlement to 1808......Page 38 2 - Economic transformations, 1808--1888......Page 63 3 - Demographic rhythms from settlement to the census of 1872......Page 116 4 - Demographic aspects of slavery, 1720--1888......Page 158 5 - Economic aspects of slavery, 1720--1888......Page 195 6 - Conclusions......Page 250 Appendixes......Page 256 Glossary......Page 305 Bibliography......Page 311 Index......Page 319 This book examines the demographic and economic history of slavery in Minas Gerais, the single largest slave-holding region in Brazil, from its settlement in the early eighteenth century until the abolition of Brazilian slavery in 1888. This slave population was remarkable in its ability to diversify economically as well as to increase through natural reproduction, rather than through importation via the trans-Altantic slave trade. Extensively researched and finely documented, this book places the history of a unique Brazilian slave community into comparative perspective. "This book examines the demographic and economic history of slavery in Minas Gerais, the single largest slave-holding region in Brazil, from its settlement in the late seventeenth century until the abolition of Brazilian slavery in 1888. It utilizes the largest database ever assembled on a slave population in the Americas to reconstruct and analyze the unique history of slave labor in Minas Gerais."-- Jacket This 2000 book examines the history of slavery in Minas Gerais, the single largest slave-holding region in Brazil. Its ability to diversify economically as well as its growth through natural reproduction, rather than through importation via the trans-atlantic slave trade indicate the unique character of this slave community. It is difficult to unravel the economic history of Minas Gerais during the eighteenth century with precision. Laird W. Bergad. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 281-288) And Index.