Modernidade em Caxias: um estudo das transformações urbanas e arquitetônicas, no fim do século XIX e a primeira metade do século XX, em Caxias - MA

Abstract

The city of Caxias/MA was one of the most important, historically and economically, from Northeast Brazil until 20th century. It had its territory initially inhabited by indigenous groups in the seventeenth century, which caused the occupation of the area by Portuguese settlers and another groups. Its history is marked by good and bad moments, economic and social, that reflected directly in its urban aspects. Agricultural production dominated the local economy from its earliest dwellings and was responsible for the city growth, until its elevation to city category in 1836. However, an economic crisis and the traditions to which the city and its population were trapped resulted in a stagnation in the second half of the century. The moment forced Caxias to rebuild economically and socially, in a period that became known as Belle Époque (1871-1950), marked by modernity arrival. In this period Caxias lived its economic boom and due to that underwent transformations responsible for the urban and architectural form that the city currently has. Given its importance, cultural and architectural wealth, it is of great importance to study the evolution of the city. The goal of this work is to accomplish an analysis of urban and architectural transformations that Caxias spent, with emphasis in Belle Époque period, in order to understand the currently configuration of the city. For that, historical research, visits to the Historical Center and public agencies, photographic survey, thematic maps and comparative study were carried out.