THE NAMES OF CITY IM COLONIAL BRAZIL. CONSIDERATIONS OFTER CAPTAINY THE RIO GRANDE DO NORTE

Authors

  • Rubenilson Brazão Teixeira Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4215/rm.v2i3.163

Keywords:

names of city, Brazilian colonial period, Rio do Grande do Norte captaincy

Abstract

The present paper is a reflection on different terms utilised to define urban centres in Brazil, especially, but not exclusively, along the colonial period. The Portuguese colonisers had specific names to designate their settlements, according to the political, economical, religious or military functions each one of them was supposed to achieve. Even though most of the expressions apply to the whole colony, they are explained in the context of the ancient captaincy of Rio Grande do Norte. The paper, an adapted excerpt from a doctoral thesis, deals firstly with the terms and expressions employed in Rio Grande do Norte, and secondly with the terminology related to the ancient Catholic missions to the Indians.

Issue

Section

Artigos