Slavery and the Demographic and Economic History of Minas Gerais, Brazil, 1720–1888

by Laird W. Bergad

• ISBN13: 9780521652667
• ISBN10: 0521652669
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-10-28
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	xi
List of tables	xiv
Preface	xvii
Acknowledgments	xxvii
Maps	xxx
The mining-driven economy and its demise: from settlement to 1808	1	(25)
Economic transformations, 1808--1888	26	(55)
Demographic rhythms from settlement to the census of 1872	81	(42)
Demographic aspects of slavery, 1720--1888	123	(37)
Economic aspects of slavery, 1720--1888	160	(55)
Conclusions	215	(6)
Appendixes	221	(54)
Glossary	275	(6)
Bibliography	281	(8)
Index	289