Mapas, o comércio transatlântico de escravizados e o Atlântico Sul: a cartografia histórica como ferramenta para a história do sistema escravista nas Américas (1755-1802)

Abstract

The objective of this dissertation is to analyze, through cartography, the transatlantic slave trade that occurred between the 15th and 19th centuries. African slavery resulted in the subjugation of approximately 12 million African men and women, and, among them, it is estimated that approximately 4 million were landed in the ports of the Brazilian Atlantic coast, making it a central location for understanding the slave-owning dynamics that shaped American societies. For years, the theme of slavery and the slave trade has been addressed in historiography, using primary sources such as travelers' accounts, port information, travel and customs reports, but few have approached the subject using cartographic documentation as a primary source. Historical cartography is a field of research that focuses on the study of cartographic documentation produced in the past, analyzing the context surrounding the creation of maps, the information present, and their political, cultural, and social meanings. Maps are not mere illustrations, but fundamental sources for historiographical research, and were crucial during the period of slavery and in organizing the dynamics of the slave trade. Therefore, the information present in the maps produced in this context is fundamental to understanding this historical period. In this sense, using the theoretical approaches of Atlantic History and Historical Cartography, and engaging with the bibliographic base on the subject, this dissertation aims to highlight why historical maps produced during the expansion of the slave trade are essential for studies focused on the trafficking of enslaved Africans, and how they enrich the debate, bringing details and information in their composition that elucidate the dynamics of the trade and the slave system, the process of crossing the Atlantic, and the colonial project in the Americas and Africa.