Posse e circulação de livros científicos no Maranhão (1796-1804)

Abstract

This study deals with the circulation of scientific books in the captaincy of Maranhão (1796-1804). We have as objectives: to map the circulation of books in the captaincy in the turn to the Eight hundred; identify the titles and classify them by area, in order to understand the Maranhão's insertion in Portuguese enlightened reformism. In order to do so, we show the relationship between the natural sciences and the Enlightenment. The source used was the documentation of the Real Mesa Censória (1796-1804), in addition to bibliographical studies, including the catalogs that systematized key documents for its realization. As a result, we find that the scientific books emerged in D. Rodrigo's Sousa Coutinho, who encouraged the publication of works that could develop, in an integrated way, the Portuguese domains. Finally, the work points to evidence of a culture printed in Maranhão for the period in question, with emphasis on what we characterize here as scientific literature .