Settling the Brazilian Frontier: The Role of Military Colonies, 1849-1889
Author(s)
Garner, Lydia
Abstract
Military colonies were used in the nineteenth century to settle the uninhabited interior of Brazil, not only to pave the way for settlement and development of the wilderness, but also to secure the territories and boundaries of the county. The author analyzes the reasons for the military colony – from the initial governmental decision, to the exploration and charting of the unknown territory, and to the actual founding of the colony. The postinstallation phase analyzes the challenges faced by the colonies, including the lack of adequate communications and available roads as well as the threat of Indians. The effort to occupy the wilderness and to secure the national boundaries continues to be a major preoccupation of the Brazilian government.
