Bahian Recôncavo Plantations - (Studies in Latin America) by Doriane Andrade Meyer (Paperback)

About the Book

"Brazil was the recipient of the highest number of enslaved Africans and maintained the longest-lasting system of slavery in the Americas. Over three centuries, approximately four million Africans were brought to Brazil via the Middle Passage. Slavery had a significant impact on most aspects of Brazilian society, but the plantations were particularly emblematic of the spatial systems of exploitation associated with slavery. However, despite being designed to exert control over enslaved Africans, those plantations also served as sites of resistance, where enslaved people found ways to confront the system. Using more than seventy photographs, pictures, and maps, this research focuses on three plantations in the Bahian Recãoncavo region and examines how their architecture and geography were used for both control and resistance. It also shows how the legacy of slavery is still evident throughout Brazil today. The existence of more than 100 million Afro-descendant Brazilians living in informal settlements is a reflection of the ongoing social and racial barriers that have persisted since the time of slavery"--

Book Synopsis

This book explores the built environments of the Bahian Recôncavo plantations and their historical significance in the African Diaspora. More than one million Africans were brought to work in the sugarcane plantations of the Recôncavo region. This massive influx of enslaved Africans had a profound impact on society, influencing various aspects of culture, demographics, and social structures. The plantations, which were vital to the Brazilian economy, became symbolic of the spatial systems of exploitation associated with slavery. However, despite the spatiality control exerted by plantation owners, the plantations also became spaces of resistance, where the enslaved population employed various strategies to circumvent the system.

Framed by theories proposed by Michel Foucault, Pierre Bourdieu, and James Scott, this analysis delves into various sources--including archival materials and site visits--to provide a comprehensive understanding of how the spatiality of plantations influenced the behavior of their inhabitants. By examining the physical structures, spatial organization, and the lived experiences within the Recôncavo plantations, this study aims to expose the complex interplay between power, resistance, and the lasting influences on the built environment of the Brazilian cities. By uncovering these multifaceted connections, it becomes imperative to acknowledge the profound legacies embedded within the design of these plantations, and how they continue to shape Brazilian architecture and society. Understanding these ramifications is vital for fostering a more inclusive and equitable society, not only in Brazil but also in a broader context.

About the Author

Doriane Andrade Meyer is an assistant professor of architecture at Del Mar College. She is a licensed Brazilian architect and urbanist and holds a master's and Ph.D. in architecture from the University of Kansas. During her postdoctoral at the Yale Gilder Lehrman Center for the study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition, she also contributed as a critic at the Yale School of Architecture. Her research centers around the social, political, and psychological dimensions of designed environments.