“For being public and notorious”: notes about information in the Luso America economy (centuries 18th and 19th)

Abstract

This article intend to present some elements to think about access to information between mid-eighteenth century and the early nineteenth century in Portuguese America, taking into account the typical institutional environment of that society. The methods and sources that can contribute to this research will be the main points discussed here as well as what were the institutions that facilitated access to information. Among the social institutions, that made feasible to have access to information, should be highlighted the kinship, social networks, certain types of reputation, such as produced by social hierarchy, the status and public conduct.