A Paulista Counterpoint: sugar, provisions, capital and slavery in Campinas, c.1793-1860

• Grant number: 24/01324-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: March 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - History - History of Brazil
• Principal Investigator: Carlos de Almeida Prado Bacellar
• Grantee: Carlos Eduardo Nicolette
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aims to investigate the development of sugarcane farming in Campinas/SP,between 1793 and 1860, examining the impact of European world-economy phenomena on this process. It seeks to establish a dialogue between micro and macro perspectives, analyzing the productive and financial strategies of planters, the relationship between sugar and food production, the land structure of Campinas, the dynamics of slavery in the local economy, and property financing mechanisms. The main research hypothesis is that the economy of Campinas had a unique dynamic, with the expansion of sugarcane farming occurring alongside the consolidation of the supply economy. This created a complex interplay between the daily lives of sugar plantation owners, enslaved individuals, and small farmers. To fully understand this historical process, an integrated approach will be used, drawing on various historical documents such as nominative lists, post-mortem inventories, land listings, and minutes from the Campinas City Council.