Travels to Goyaz in the 19th century: Pohl's view on the cities

Abstract

This paper is based on research about the urban space of the Capitania of Goyaz in the 19th century, drawing from Johann Emanuel Pohl's Viagem no Interior do Brasil (1782-1834), an Austrian physician, mineralogist, and botanist. Pohl visited Brazil between 1817 and 1821, leading a mission that traveled through the captaincies of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and Goyaz. His visit was made possible by the marriage of Pedro I to Leopoldina of Austria, which strengthened diplomatic ties and allowed Austrian naturalists to conduct scientific expeditions in Brazil. The objectives of this article are: a) To analyze three of the 32 settlements visited by Pohl in Goyaz; b) To examine the economic activities of the capitania through the cities' structure and architecture; c) To study the population and daily life in Goyaz; d) To compare the condition of these cities in the 19th century with their situation in the 21st century, focusing on population, infrastructure, and quality of life. The research adopts a descriptive approach, centered on the urban environment of Goyaz in the first half of the 19th century.