O PERÍODO POMBALINO EM PORTUGAL E NO BRASIL

Summary

In this video, Pedro Renault explains the Pombaline period of Brazilian and Portuguese history (1750-1777), focusing on the reforms of the Marquis of Pombal. As an enlightened despot, Pombal sought to modernize Portugal by centralizing power, reducing England's influence, and reforming the economy. Key measures included the confiscation of church lands, educational reforms, and economic policies that affected both Portugal and its colonies. The video delves into the significant impact of these reforms in Brazil, including the prohibition of local manufacturing and the gold tax ('derivama'). Ultimately, Pombal's policies contributed to rising tensions, foreshadowing the separatist revolts in Brazil.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Pombaline period, from 1750 to 1777, refers to the time when Portugal was ruled by Dom José I, with the Marquis of Pombal as prime minister.
• 😀 The Marquis of Pombal was an enlightened despot, influenced by the Enlightenment, and sought to modernize Portugal's government and economy.
• 😀 Portugal's economy was in crisis during this period due to debts, the decline of the sugar industry, and dependence on England after the Treaty of Methuen (1703).
• 😀 Pombal's main goal was to revive Portugal’s economy, reduce dependence on England, and implement various reforms in both Portugal and its colonies.
• 😀 He implemented economic reforms such as encouraging manufacturing in Portugal and the creation of the Alto Dourado wine company to boost local production.
• 😀 Pombal centralized power in the state, clashing with the nobility and the Catholic clergy, leading to reforms that limited the influence of both groups.
• 😀 In education, Pombal shifted control away from the Catholic Church and Jesuits, creating state-controlled educational institutions funded by a new tax.
• 😀 He confiscated the lands of the Catholic Church, arguing that the Church should contribute to Portugal’s recovery by paying taxes, which they previously avoided.
• 😀 In Brazil, Pombal separated the Captaincies of Maranhão and Grão Pará to boost local economies, promoting cotton cultivation as an alternative to the declining sugar industry.
• 😀 Pombal prohibited manufacturing in Brazil, ensuring that manufactured goods were imported from Portugal, reinforcing the colonial relationship and benefiting the Portuguese economy.
• 😀 One of Pombal’s most controversial measures was the introduction of the 'derrama', a new tax on gold mining, which led to tensions with local miners and authorities in Brazil.
• 😀 The Pombaline period set the stage for later separatist revolts in Brazil, such as the Inconfidência Mineira (1789) and the Bahian Conspiracy (1798), as colonists grew increasingly dissatisfied with Portuguese rule.

Q & A

What is the Pombaline period in Portuguese history?

The Pombaline period refers to the period in Portugal from 1750 to 1777 when the Marquis of Pombal served as prime minister under King Dom José I, with a focus on centralizing power and implementing reforms to address economic challenges.

Who was the Marquis of Pombal and what role did he play in the Pombaline period?

The Marquis of Pombal, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, was an enlightened despot who served as prime minister of Portugal. He implemented significant reforms to modernize the economy, reduce the influence of the Catholic Church, and manage the colonial relationship between Portugal and Brazil.

What is an 'enlightened despot,' and how does it relate to the Marquis of Pombal?

An enlightened despot is a ruler who embraces Enlightenment ideas to justify absolute power, aiming to improve society through rational reforms. The Marquis of Pombal exemplified this by enacting reforms that were intended to strengthen the state, reduce the power of the nobility and clergy, and promote economic recovery.

How did the economic situation in Portugal contribute to the reforms of the Marquis of Pombal?

Portugal faced a severe economic crisis during the 18th century, exacerbated by the loss of sugar trade dominance, a heavy debt to England from the 1703 Treaty of Methuen, and the depletion of gold reserves from Brazil. This crisis led the Marquis of Pombal to implement reforms aimed at economic recovery and reducing dependence on England.

What were the main economic reforms introduced by the Marquis of Pombal in Portugal?

Pombal encouraged domestic manufacturing to reduce reliance on English goods, established the Alto Dourado wine company to promote wine production, and created a 'literary subsidy' tax to fund the rebuilding of Lisbon and the establishment of state-controlled educational institutions.

What was the significance of the tax on education in Portugal during the Pombaline period?

The tax on education, known as the literary subsidy, was used to fund the rebuilding of Lisbon and the creation of state-run educational institutions, breaking from the previous control of the Catholic Church over education. This was a key step in Pombal's attempt to secularize and modernize the country.

Why did the Marquis of Pombal confiscate lands from the Catholic clergy?

Pombal confiscated church lands because the clergy did not pay taxes, which he saw as a waste of resources at a time when Portugal was trying to recover economically. This move was part of his broader goal of reducing the influence of the Catholic Church in both Portugal and its colonies.

What reforms did the Marquis of Pombal implement in Brazil during the Pombaline period?

In Brazil, Pombal separated the Captaincies of Grão Pará and Maranhão, promoted cotton cultivation to replace sugar production, expelled the Jesuits, and imposed economic policies favoring Portugal. Additionally, he signed the Treaty of Madrid in 1750, which adjusted borders and established new territorial claims in Brazil.

What was the 'Derrama' tax in Brazil, and why was it controversial?

The 'Derrama' was a tax imposed on gold mining in Brazil, requiring miners to pay a delayed tax if they failed to meet regular payments. This tax was highly controversial because it was seen as exploitative, and local miners, who were often the authorities responsible for collecting the tax, resisted its enforcement.

What was the long-term impact of the Pombaline period on Brazil's relationship with Portugal?

The Pombaline period heightened tensions between Brazil and Portugal. The Portuguese economic policies, which prioritized Portugal's interests over Brazil's, contributed to growing dissatisfaction in Brazil. This discontent eventually led to separatist revolts and calls for independence, influenced by Enlightenment ideals and the desire for more autonomy.