Sertão, sociedade e meio ambiente no rio Piranhas, Capitania da Paraíba do Norte, 1670-1750

Abstract

The social agents involved in the plot of the colonization of the lands of the hinterlands of America were influenced by environmental factors. This article attempts to analyze elements of the relationship between man and nature during the colonial period in the Portuguese America. To make possible this work, it was selected Hinterland of Rio Piranhas, located in the backlands of the Captaincy of Paraíba do Norte, because, among others questions, was involved in the dynamics of occupation of west of the Brazil from the abundance of attractive lands for the practice of raising cattle. This characteristic added to other environmental factors such as the prevalence of semi-arid climate and the scarcity of water were elements that contributed to the conflicts between settlers and indigenous, to the configuration of alliances between settlers and the conformation of the properties.