Given Goa's significance as the capital of the Portuguese empire in Asia, and its unique social landscape, this event provides an opportunity to understand how the Portuguese and the local population interacted and shaped the territory. The session aims to share and debate new research approaches related to the history of Goa in the early modern period, focusing on the relevance and connection between the land, the villages, and the communities in that period.
Goa was a Portuguese colony for over 450 years, making it one of the longest-lasting colonial possessions in Asia. This period had profound effects on its social, economic, and political structures. The Portuguese period saw significant transformations, including the spread of Christianity with the construction of numerous churches and other structures. These changes had lasting effects on the social fabric of the region, influencing local traditions and communal relations.
Manuel Bastias Saavedra (Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany), Patricia Souza de Faria (Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Susana Bastos Mateus (Alberto Benveniste Chair of Sephardic Studies – University of Lisbon, Portugal), with their expertise on various aspects of Goa in the 16th - 18th centuries will be engaging in an insightful session on ‘New Research Approaches on land, villages and Comunidades in Goa of the 16th-18th centuries’, at Fundação Oriente, Rua Filipe Neri Xavier, Fontainhas, Panjim, Goa on August 10, 2024 at 6:00 pm.
Goa's early modern history has left behind a rich architectural and artistic heritage. The blending of European and local styles is evident in its houses, churches, forts, and other structures reflecting a unique aesthetic that contributes to its historical and touristic appeal.
The transition from Portuguese rule to Indian integration in 1961 was a pivotal moment in Goa's history. Goa's historical experiences have had a broader influence on the Indian subcontinent and beyond. Its history offers lessons on colonialism, resistance, and cultural exchange that are relevant to understanding similar historical contexts in other regions. Overall, a thorough understanding of Goa's early modern history provides a deeper appreciation of its current cultural and social dynamics, as well as its place in the larger historical narrative of the region and the World as a whole.
This event is part of the project IberLAND. IberLAND is a five-year research project funded by an ERC Consolidator Grant and hosted at Leibniz University Hannover (Germany). It explores the history of land tenure in a long-term and global perspective by focusing on the territories of the former Portuguese and Spanish empires in what has recently been labeled the Iberian world.
The aim of this event, organized by Roger Lee de Jesus, Post-doc researcher (Leibniz Universtät Hannover, Germany), is to share and debate new research approaches related to the history of Goa in the early modern period, focusing on the relevance and connection between the land, the villages, and the Comunidades. Given Goa's significance as the capital of the Portuguese Empire in Asia and its unique social landscape, this event provides an opportunity to understand how the Portuguese and the local population interacted and shaped the territory.
The goal of the three conferences is to offer a panoramic view of these social relations. Manuel Bastias Saavedra is the Principal Investigator of the project IberLAND, ‘Beyond Property: Law and Land in the Iberian World (1510-1850)’, funded by a European Research Council Consolidator Grant. He has carried out studies in history and philosophy, and in 2012 was awarded a PhD in History of Latin America at the Free University of Berlin. His research focuses on the political, social, and legal history of Latin America and the Iberian World, with regional specialization in Chile, Brazil, and the Philippines. He will present the IberLAND project, funded by the European Research Council and hosted at the Leibniz Universität Hannover (Germany). This project explores land tenure from a long-term and global perspective, with Goa as one of the selected case studies. Patricia Souza de Faria is an associate professor at the Department of History at the Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). She holds a PhD in History from the Federal Fluminense University and Post-doctoral studies at the University of Évora (Portugal) and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (France). Her research themes are related to the Portuguese Empire in Asia, especially the religious orders, the Inquisition, and slave populations in Goa (16th and 17th centuries).
Her current research focuses on land administered by the Jesuits in Goa and Bassein. She will be analyzing how a dispute between the Jesuits and the Portuguese king reveals the ways in which the Jesuits were taking control of the territory and its exploration. Finally, Susana Bastos Mateus who is a researcher of the Alberto Benveniste Chair of Sephardic Studies (University of Lisbon) and a member of the international research group “History of the Inquisitions” and of the editorial board of the journal Cadernos de Estudos Sefarditas will provide insights into the lives of newly converted Christians and New Christians in Goa, highlighting their connection to the social life of the comunidades through the archives of the Inquisition. She is co-author of “The Trial of Catarina de Orta by the Goa Inquisition (with Miguel Rodrigues Lourenço and Carla Vieira)”. Presently she is coordinating the project “Praying to the God of Israel according to the Portuguese Tradition (16th-18th centuries)”, which is dedicated to studying the circulation of clandestine prayer books in the Iberian world during the early modern period. Her principal research field focuses on the dynamics of the Sephardic diaspora of the 16th century, studying the role of women, and questioning the importance of gender as an element of resistance and agency. Together, these three sessions offer a broad overview of the history of land in Goa and demonstrate how new approaches and studies can help rethink this central aspect of Goan history, in the current times. Many current issues and challenges have historical roots. Understanding the past provides context for contemporary problems, helping one address them more effectively and with greater empathy. Knowing the right history helps in understanding the complexities of these issues, including their origins and development, which is crucial for addressing them effectively.
In essence, knowing the right history is fundamental for developing a well-rounded understanding of the past, which in turn influences the present and future. It ensures that one bases one’s actions, beliefs, and policies on accurate and comprehensive information, leading to more informed, fair, and effective outcomes. In education, accurate history is fundamental for teaching students about the past in a truthful and comprehensive manner. It provides a foundation for understanding other subjects and fosters an appreciation of historical context.