Terra Prometida ou Solo Hostil: Percepções sobre Fertilidade e Produtividade na Colônia de Teresópolis (SC), 1860-1869

Percepciones sobre Fertilidad y Productividad en la Colonia de Teresópolis (SC), 1860-1869.

Abstract

In 1860, the government founded the colony of Teresópolis, in the Cubatão River valley in Santa Catarina. At times, the colony is described as a fertile and prosperous land, but at many other times, it is described as unproductive and mountainous land. This article aims to understand what productivity meant to the settlers of Teresópolis, which generated so much discrepancy in the different discourses. To this end, we cross-referenced data from petitions by the settlers, letters from the colony's director, reports from the provincial president, newspapers and bibliography that relate to agrarian issues in the Teresópolis colony.