From the empire of “revolutions” to the empire of “slavery”: arguments, subjects and interpretations of the history of the Brazilian Empire (1922-1950)

Abstract

This article describes the meanings given to the imperial period inthe centuries XIX and XX. It highlights the pathway of motivations,arguments and subjects (The Liberal Revolution and slavery) whichinspired their major interpreters: Joaquim Nabuco, Oliveira Lima,Gilberto Freyre, Sérgio Buarque de Holanda, Caio Prado Júnior andNelson Werneck Sodré. Therefore, this article follows the readingsof the monarchy times, which express several positions regarding theregime, revolutions, and singularities of the Brazilian nation. Next, itsignals the analysis built in the liberal republic period (1889-1930)– from Oliveira Lima, Oliveira Vianna and Vicente Licínio Cardoso– when a “convergent debate” took place, which associated differentthesis regarding the monarchic experience. Finally, the article deals withthe “modern interpreters” of Brazil – Freyre, Holanda, Prado Juniorand Sodré – authors who, from different conceptions on the BrazilianRevolution, (re)conceptualized the argumentative patrimony on themonarchic Brazil history, handed down by their antecessors.