From Vila Rica to Rio das Mortes: changing the economic axis in colonial Minas Gerais

Abstract

This work analyses economic production in Minas Gerais from 1750 until 1822. It sheds light on the economy of Minas Gerais’ “capitania” during the gold mining crisis and is a comparative analysis of Ouro Preto’s and Rio das Mortes’ “comarcas”, which represented different economic options available to the “capitania” at the time.