Brazil Slide Series: Collection Sao Paulo, Slide No. 0011.

Creator

Herbert Knup
Jon M. Tolman
Siegfried Muhlhausser

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Publication Date

3-2-2009

Description

View of Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais with the church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo on the hilltop. After years of frustration, gold and precious stones were found by the late Seventeenth century in the region that became known as Minas Gerais. These discoveries had important economic repercussions, since the sugar profits, themainstay of the colonial economy, had steadily begun to decline. The majority of the arraiais, or mining establishments, were concentrated in central Minas Gerais, especially Vila Rica (Ouro Preto), Sabará and Diamantina. Thousands of speculators and settlers flocked to the mining camps in the interior from the coastal settlements, and even from Portugal, which vainly attempted to restrict emigration. The capital of the colony was shifted in 1763 from Salvador to Rio de Janeiro to facilitate shipping and better administer the exploitation of this enormous wealth.Vista de Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais com a igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo no topo da colina. Após anos de frustração, ouro e pedras preciosas foram encontradas no final do século dezessete na região, à qual ficou conhecida como Minas Gerais. Estas descobertas tiveram repercussões económicas importantes, porque os lucros do açúcar, a base da economia colonial, começ\U001000e4ram um declínio constante. A maioria dos arraiais ou minas, estavam concentrados no centro de Minas Gerais, especialmente Vila Rica (Ouro Preto), Sabará e Diamantina. Milhares de especuladores e colonizadores se deslocaram das instalações costeiras, para os campos de minas no interior, e mesmo de Portugal, que, em vão tentava restringir a emigração. A capital da colónia foi mudada em 1763 de Salvador para o Rio de Janeiro para facilitar o transporte e a melhor administração da exploração desta enorme riqueza.

Publisher

Latin American and Iberian Institute / University of New Mexico

Rights

Brazil Slide Series Collection: This article is copyrighted by the Latin American & Iberian Institute (LAII) of the University of New Mexico. Rights permission is for standard academic, non-commercial, use of these materials. Proper citation of this material should include title, author, publisher, date, and URL. Copyright Latin American and Iberian Institute University of New Mexico 1991