Ashes of the past: wealth and material culture in the Paraopeba valley in Minas Gerais - Brazil, 1840/1914

Author(s)

Claudia Eliane Parreiras Marques Martinez

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD)
• Defense date: 2006-12-15

Examining board members

Eni de Mesquita Samara; Vânia Carneiro de Carvalho; Dario Horacio Gutierrez Gallardo; Ulpiano Toledo Bezerra de Meneses; João Antonio de Paula

• Advisor: Eni de Mesquita Samara

Abstract

This thesis aims at understanding the transformation in wealth and material culture of different social groups during the transition of the slave system in Minas Gerais. The Paraopeba valley constitutes the main scenery of this research based on 761 post mortem inventories. Further sources such as the 1831/32 nominative lists of habitants, the Provincial Census, Province Presidents\' reports and contemporary newspapers have been addressed. A set of photographs of residencies, fazendas, storehouses and work tools (spinning wheels, looms and the oxcart) have also been considered. It should be highlighted that spinning and weaving played an essential role allowing the region to develop high dynamism in the period of slavery. Due to the significant presence of women in the textile handicraft industry the economy of the region presented a differential that distinguished the kind of production and market. However, other rhythms and nuances marked the end of the 19th century in Brazil, especially those found in the Paraopeba valley. The change in the labour system, the dispersion of wealth and the consequent change in material culture constitute the central issue of this thesis. Several questions related to the ownership of slaves, valorisation of land, subdivision of properties, dispersion of great fortunes after 1888, as well as the significant changes in the internal and external space of the residencies of the different social classes characterize the main issues addressed in this study. In order to analyze material culture, a series of categories have been considered, such as the values of use, exchange, ownership and selection. These attributes allow of perceiving the cultural representation of artefacts, social practice, symbology, as well as constancies and changes in behaviour patterns and life style in the Paraopeba valley. All the analyses with respect to the valley have been confronted with other regions, such as Minas Gerais\' wood zone and the (former) provinces of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Goiás and Pernambuco. This comparative study has revealed singularities and similarities established in Brazil\'s and Minas Gerais\' reality before and after Abolition. (AU)