Dutch Recife

natural history an Netherland's colonization (1624-1654)

Abstract

The main objective of this article is to elucidate Dutch Recife's role as a priviledged place for the study of nature in the New World, especially during count John Maurits of Nassau-Siegen's government (1637-1644). From 1637 to 1645, naturalists Guilherme Piso and Jorge Marcgrave made scientific expeditions to the New World. These voyages led to the publication of História Natural do Brasil (1648) and História Natural e Médica da India Ocidental (1658). By making use of the metaphor of the theatre to refer to Nature, we can identify in the relationship between the ways of apprehension and representation of the natural world the specific manner in which the Netherlanders have exerted their domination on their colonial sphere during Modern Age.