A prática de recenseamento portuguesa em Angola: utilidades, método, estrutura e classificações (Angola, fins do século XVIII)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the ways, methods and classifications used by Portuguese in the preparation of census did for Portugal I Angola in the period covering the late of Eighteenth century. This period was marked by major structural and administrative changes overseas derived from the reforms taken by Pombal. These reforms made possible a better organization and regional knowledge of their vassals, one of the main concerns of the Portuguese Crown was to obtain information on its domains to better enforce its sovereignty and economic control. However, the African reality forced the Portuguese administrative system to change, to adapt local cultures, policies and traditions. We can tell that Portuguese administration in Angola was gained new contours and configurations according to the local context, since the forms of census also changed from its first order into final production. The census discourse besides evidencing these adaptations still expresses much of the social discourse of the period