Cristãos e infiéis nos espaços de fronteira, Chiquitania/Bolívia e Pantanal/Brasil : conflitos, reciprocidade, mestiçagem e mobilidade social (1770 – 1800)

Abstract

The issue of the thesis is to understand the cultural dynamics and the multiple strategies used by natives and blacks in the border spaces of the Chiquitanía/Bolivia and the Pantanal/Brazil, between 1770 and 1800, in an attempt to manipulate the "other" and create survival chances before the intense sociocultural changes and the own pressure exerted by the experienced historical context. Our attempt is to highlight the logic of indigenous and black societies, through official sources or colonial manuscripts. Although the information of historical sources are fragmented and not very descriptive, this study aims to break with the permanent confrontation perspective between ethnic groups, after all, the border spaces also offer opportunities for exchanges of people and ideas. The linkages between the spaces provided mobility between the characters who used, besides confrontations, especially the negotiation and reciprocity to act and assimilate the colonial historical reality, from their own logic. The research seeks to demonstrate the realization that social groups and individuals formulated actions and strategies to develop specific activities, thus promoting the transfer and dialogue between different people and spaces. As mediators these characters contributed to the interaction, binding and permeabilization of their borders. "Infidels" groups took advantage of the deficiencies, the system demands and the disputes between the empires to make raids to the colonized areas where they subtracted, especially, cattle, horses and captives to use in the development of daily activities, facilitating transportation, mobility, dispersion and trade. The miscegenation and cultural exchanges nurtured from the relationship with the Other, taking place in different ways: leakage, desertions, communications and negotiations. Therefore, in the mestizos’ spaces, as well as in the emerging new social groups, occur new relationships, ascension opportunities and social participation of different ethnic groups.